

Sara C. Palmer 


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DONALD 

CAMPBELL’S 

LOYALTY 




By SARA C. PALMER 

w 

Author of “Vera Dickson’s Triumph,” “The Com- 
peting Artists,” etc. 


Chicago 

THE BIBLE INSTITUTE COLPORTAGE ASS’N 
826 North La Salle Street 


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Other Books by Miss Palmer 

In which true incidents in modem life are pur- 
posefully related in attractive story form. Illus- 
trated. 

Vera Dickson’s Triumph 

The progress and triumph of the faith of a college 
girl in and out of her home and church. With 
extension covers, 50c; cloth, $1.00. 

The Competing Artists 

A story involving the dangers of the unequal 
marriage yoke, and its happy solution. With ex- 
tension covers, 50c; cloth, $1.00. 




Copyright, 1921, by 
The Bible Institute Colportage 
Association of Chicago 


DEC 27 21 


Printed in the United States of America 


©GI.A630997 




AUTHOR’S FOREWORD 


T HE request has come from a number of 
earnest Christians for a story for young 
people, with fun, war, and truth combined 
in its contents, so here it is. Every illustration 
used is true, the characters are real people, and 
their actions are facts. Therefore, the book, like 
those that have preceded it from the same pen, 
goes forth with the prayer that its message may 
win many young lives for the Master and lead 
them into His service. 


Sara C. Palmer. 






























































































































































































































































































































































* 
































































CHAPTER 

CONTENTS 

PAGE 

I. 

The Pines - 

7 

II. 

The Nelson Farm 

- - 13 

III. 

Choosing a Vocation 

20 

IV. 

The Spiritual Awakening 

- - 29 

V. 

Wedding Bells 

- - 37 

VI. 

Standards - 

- - 43 

VII. 

Burglars - - - - 

- - 53 

VIII. 

A Church Home - 

- - 59 

IX. 

Decisions - 

- - 65 

X. 

A Chip of the Old Block - 

- - 78 

XI. 

Graduation - 

- - 88 

XII. 

The War Cloud - 

- - 95 

XIII. 

Shouldering the Burden 

100 

XIV. 

Vindicated - 

- - 106 

XV. 

A Memorable Night 

114 

XVI. 

A Discarded Friend - 

- - 124 

XVII. 

Wounded - 

137 

XVIII. 

Loyalty ----- 

- - 141 

XIX. 

Newspaper Reports 

157 

XX. 

Surprises - 

169 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

It was at one of these gatherings that Miss Hunter 


was led into a saving knowledge of the truth as 
it is in Jesus --------21 

“Donald,” said Mr. Campbell, “I want you to take 
great and good men for your example along every 
line” - -- -- -- -- 47 

The boy apologized for his impertinence and said, 
“You can count on my friendship in future” - - 111 

“She tells me you are a hypochondriac, whatever that 
means, and that they were glad you left Clemen- 

dale” 129 

“Doubtless you will have much to talk about and I 
shall leave you to your folklore while I hurry away 
to my patients” 165 


[ 5 ] 



Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

CHAPTER I. 

The Pines 

I T was one of the most beautiful spots in the 
country. The river wound its graceful way 
beneath palisades on one side, and ‘‘The 
Pines,” the extensive farm owned by Colvin Camp- 
bell rose, as it were, out of the water and overhung 
it with grove and garden. It was a sight that 
attracted hundreds of tourists every year. 

The house, situated some distance from the 
road as though hiding from the public eye, was 
nestled in the rich foliage of wonderful trees and 
adorned with grounds that bespoke the trained 
mind of a landscape gardener who knew some- 
thing of God's plan and purpose in giving mankind 
the beauties of nature to enjoy. The well-kept 
lawns, beautiful flowers, and fragrant blossoms 
of the many vines that trailed over walls and 
twined around windows, made the place a veri- 
table fairy land. 

Within this beautiful old country residence, 
with its spacious rooms, high ceilings and fine 
[ 7 ] 


8 


Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 


windows, order, the soul of domestic and social 
comfort, reigned paramount until the arrival of 
the children. Then everything seemed suddenly 
to change! Strangers approaching the house 
could see signs of the real occupants everywhere, 
for these were real children with good red blood in 
their veins, ready to do anything that children 
had ever done before. Their laughter rang 
through the house and reverberated through the 
trees. They played pranks, prattled, fought, and 
cried. 

“I wish my children were grown up,” sighed 
Mrs. Campbell, as she took her place at the break- 
fast table one morning. 

‘They will be grown up soon enough,” replied 
her husband, scanning the headlines of the daily 
paper. 

“You are surely one of Job’s comforters, but 
if you were with them every day and all the day, 
as I am, you would think differently. I sometimes 
wonder if there will be any children in heaven, or 
if they will all be grown up there.” 

“Why, bless your heart, mother,” said Mr. 
Campbell cheerily, “ it would not be heaven without 
children. Like Charles Dickens we ought to ap- 
preciate them while they are small. You remem- 
ber he wrote: 

“ ‘They are idols of hearts and of households; 

They are angels of God in disguise; 

His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses, 


The Pines 


9 


His glory still gleams in their eyes. 

Oh, those truants from home and from heaven, 
They make me more manly and mild; 

And I know how Jesus can liken 
The kingdom of God to a child.’ ” 

There were four children in the Campbell house- 
hold. Jean had attained the age of six years and 
was to be initiated into school life on the morning 
on which our story opens. Donald was four, and 
the twins, Beatrice and Esther, were two years 
old. All seemed to be putting on a special program 
to commemorate the occasion. 

Donald had awakened his sister at a very early 
hour, by hurling a pillow onto her bed, as a remind- 
er that the eventful morning had arrived. The 
noise aroused the twins in the next room, and soon 
two pairs of little arms were doing their best to 
throw the pillows from their cots. Although they 
failed utterly, the endeavor gave genuine pleasure. 

“Since this is to be your first day at school, 
Jean, we will give you the honor of returning 
thanks,” said Mr. Campbell, when all were seated 
at the breakfast table. He looked at his daughter, 
who beamed on him as he addressed her. She 
bowed her head, closed her eyes and said rev- 
erently, 

“We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food, 

For life and health and every good; 

Let manna to our souls be given, 

The Bread of life sent down from heaven.” 


10 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

Donald, looking through his fingers, had re- 
peated it with her while the twins sighed heavily 
and with a quick drawn breath at the end of each 
line, said the last word. Then all four, as they 
took down their hands, in a note of triumph said, 
“Amen.” 

Marjorie Nelson, who lived on the next farm, 
was to call for Jean and take her to school. Jean 
was ready half an hour before the appointed time 
but was none too early for Marjorie, who was de- 
lighted with her task. Watching the two girls go 
down the long avenue toward the road and dis- 
appear behind the trees that hid the school house 
from view, Mrs. Campbell and the twins, stand- 
ing on the steps, waved goodbye to them as they 
went out of sight. 

Proudly leading Jean by the hand Marjorie 
approached the school. Finding the door open, 
she escorted her young protege to a desk, and be- 
lieving that her appointed task was faithfully 
executed, proceeded to meet her former playmates 
and announce the arrival of a new scholar. Save 
for a little light that stole through a crack here 
and there in the closed shutters, the school 
was dark. Realizing the dreariness of the place, 
Jean felt a strange feeling begin to creep over 
her. All the weird tales she had ever heard from 
a superstitious maid came back to her mind. Her 
lip trembled and the tears fell. With a wild 


The Pines 


11 


scream she ran from the schoolroom, fled out 
into the yard, and down the road as fast as 
her legs could carry her toward home. 

Like every child who is blessed with a loving 
mother, Jean knew where to go with her fears 
and troubles. It was not long before she was 
divested of her school garments and busy at play 
with the other children, and the inauspicious day 
became history. 

“Now, Jean,” said Mrs. Campbell, as she pre- 
pared her daughter for school next morning, “you 
are facing life’s problem, beginning for you with 
the public school. I will expect you to be a good 
little soldier. Therefore the best thing for you 
is to go to school alone and settle down bravely 
to study.” 

“Yes, mother,” said Jean, and started off. 

But on this second day a tramp met Jean 
within a short distance of the school and once 
more, with heart-breaking sobs, she turned home- 
ward to find a sympathizing friend in mother, 
who quelled her fears and again permitted her to 
play truant. 

On the third morning Jean, without demur, 
bravely wended her way schoolward, but with a 
well concocted scheme tucked away in her little 
head, namely, that a performance like that of the 
previous morning would meet the approval of her 
mother. Not being well versed in matters of 


12 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

deception, she aroused the suspicions of her par- 
ents when a few minutes after saying adieu 
she returned weeping. Their children were not 
brought up on the painless system and now the 
time had arrived to cure Jean of her peculiar 
malady. Taking her into the house Mrs. Camp- 
bell used her slipper freely and put the offending 
one to bed for the rest of the day. Needless to 
say the medicine needed never to be administered 
again. Running away from school lost its charm 
for Jean when there was an experience like that 
at the other end of the line. How often God has 
to correct His grown up family. But sweet are 
His chastisements! They are never withheld, 
but always administered in tender love and 
followed with the peaceable fruits of righteous- 
ness. 


CHAPTER II. 


The Nelson Farm 

N the farm adjoining “The Pines” was a 



quaint old house, built by Lawrence Nel- 


son, the father of the present owner, 
after the style of an old European castle. A stone 
spiral stairway extended from the first floor to 
the fourth story, above which was a roof garden. 
On the roof was a large concrete platform, rest- 
ing on low pillars, with a trench-like space be- 
tween it and the walls. These walls were con- 
tinued about four feet above the roof, and in the 
four turrets that adorned the comers was a touch 
of Elizabethan architecture. 

Mr. Nelson was a great lover of nature, and 
often during the summer the family would repair 
to the roof garden to watch the sunset. Many 
and varied were the pictures on which their eyes 
feasted on these occasions. The atmospheric con- 
ditions seemed to make each new picture more 
beautiful than the last. The young people, Ralph 
and Marjorie, usually exclaimed more when they 
saw the clouds gather and cast their massy sub- 
stance across the sky, breaking up into lines that 
looked like soldiers lying in wait for the signal 


[ 13 ] 


14 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

to inarch forward and obscure the sunset and hide 
the beauty. But, like a great general grappling 
for the mastery, the sun would beat them back 
on either side, shoot them through with glory 
and ride triumphantly on a billowy chariot of 
purple, red, and gold into the gates of the west. 

It was on one of these glorious evenings that 
Mr. Campbell visited the Nelson Farm to discuss 
with his old friend and college chum their church 
problems. 

“What are we going to do about our church?” 
questioned Mr. Nelson, placing a chair beside his 
own for his friend. 

“That is just what I came to talk about,” re- 
plied Mr. Campbell, who valued his friend’s 
advice. “We are living in a day when there is 
very little reverence seen in the house of God. 
Are we going to sit by and see the children of 
careless parents run up and down the aisles at 
will without restraint and not say a word?” 

“If we do, our children will follow the example 
of these boys and girls, who, in a very modern 
way, are ruling their parents and practically 
doing as they please.” 

“To my mind, then,” said Mr. Campbell, “our 
mission starts at home. You have two children, 
I have four. We must make them understand 
that they are to be reverent in the house of God 
and follow the teaching of Scripture which says, 
‘Children, obey your parents in the Lord.’ ” 


The Nelson Farm 


15 


“You believe, then, in the antiquated injunc- 
tion, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, 
and when he is old he will not depart from it/ ” 
laughed Mr. Nelson. 

“Yes, but our neighbors have a revised version 
of that portion, namely, ‘Train up a child in the 
way he wants to go' ; therefore they are rewarded 
with the result, ‘and when he is old he will not 
depart from it/ ” 

“Do you find your children need training ?” 
asked Mr. Nelson, with a twinkle in his eye. 

“I have yet to discover the natural good in my 
family. Every action speaks of a nature inherited 
from fallen man, Adam, and I'll guarantee that 
if you and I were to see our children this moment 
as they play together at ‘The Pines/ we would 
be satisfied they are not related to the angels/’ 

“They are not angels in church, at least/’ con- 
tinued Mr. Campbell. “I noticed unusual excite- 
ment among my little flock last Sunday morning 
when I came to take up the offering. Jean, who 
had put her collection in her glove and had 
worked it up until it was at the top of one of the 
fingers, looked up with flushed face as I waited 
at the end of the pew. Some explanation was 
necessary, and since they were not permitted to 
talk in church she held up the glove by the finger. 
I turned my head away rather quickly for such 
a dignified person as I, and a general smile passed 


16 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

over the faces of those who sat near enough to 
see what had happened.” 

“It is all very true,” replied Mr. Nelson, “and 
you realize the responsibility that rests on you 
as a father, and you are determined, by the grace 
of God, to do your duty and leave the results 
with the Lord.” 

“Truth forces me to acknowledge the compli- 
ment, Mr. Nelson,” replied Mr. Campbell, after a 
lengthy pause. Then he continued: 

“It is customary at ‘The Pines’ to stay in the 
dining room after Sunday dinner and read from 
the family Bible such stories as that of Joseph, 
Moses, Samuel, Daniel, or Jesus. These we read 
as histories, and the fact is carefully impressed 
upon the minds of the young people that God is 
the author of these histories, and that it would 
be very wrong to doubt the truth of any word in 
the Bible. I look for and teach my children to 
expect beauties, excellencies, where God has so 
abundantly placed them in His precious Word. 
I take special delight in placing before them the 
delicious fruits of the tree of life, never forgetting 
to add that these could only be found at the cross 
of Jesus Christ. I plan to furnish their young 
minds with an armory of ready weapons, which 
I hope will be used in the service of the King.” 

“What are your successes in this direction?” 
interjected Mr. Nelson. 


The Nelson Farm 


17 


“Too few, I fear,” replied Mr. Campbell. “Let 
me illustrate.” 

“‘Where did the first man dwell?’ ” was my 
question one day as they finished their Bible 
lesson. 

“ ‘In a tree/ answered Jean, while Donald 
laughed at what he considered a huge joke. 

“ ‘Stop laughing/ I rejoined, and turning to 
Jean, who had hung her head shyly, asked, ‘Who 
told you so, Jean?’ 

“ ‘Miss Hunter/ said Jean, her lips trembling. 

“ ‘What does the Bible say V I asked kindly, as 
I placed my hand lovingly on the old Book. 

“ ‘That Adam lived in the garden of Eden/ 
she replied. 

“ ‘Yes, and no matter what any one may tell 
you about the Bible, always remember that what 
God says is true.’ ” 

“ ‘Mother/ said I that night after the children 
had been put to bed, ‘we are facing problems, 
not only in the church and Sunday-school, but in 
the public school as well. During this stage of 
the life of our children we abdicate our authority 
and set Miss Hunter on the throne. Her business 
is to impart information and form character. 
How can she do it successfully if she robs them of 
their belief in the Bible? Everything that we 
hold dear will be lost if she spends the hours in 
school undoing the teaching they are receiving at 
home. We give over to her their bodies, their 


18 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

minds, and, in fact, their souls, and say, Make 
them strong, develop them, put into their minds 
knowledge, and into their hearts truth, but we 
cannot afford to let her take the stories of the 
Bible that they have grown to love and taunt them 
with the delusion that they are but fairy tales. 
We must cultivate her friendship, invite her to 
our home and seek to win her for the Lord, so 
that she in turn may help us. Then when the 
Holy Spirit withdraws the veil and shows these 
young people their need of Christ they will ac- 
cept Him into hearts that are already stored with 
precious truths from the Word of God/ ” 

“And what was the result ?” asked Mr. Nelson 
with interest. 

“We lost no time in inviting Miss Hunter to 
dinner. Wisely and tactfully we showed her that 
we were paying extra money to have a college 
graduate in that school, but that we could not 
permit evolutionary teaching anywhere, and 
particularly in the second grade. 

“She is, as you know, a very lovely and agree- 
able young woman, but confessed that she knew 
absolutely nothing about the Bible. She had 
swallowed whole the evolutionary teaching doled 
out to her by the professors in college. She 
thought, since she was installed in a school where 
wealthy farmers were willing to pay the greater 
part of her salary, that she would be expected to 
teach the very latest and most up-to-date lessons 


The Nelson Farm 


19 


along that line. Therefore she was but con- 
scientiously trying to do her duty. 

“She took the rebuke very sweetly, however, 
and went home to revise her lessons according 
to the standard placed for her, a college gradu- 
ate, in a little country school, where students at 
least were the children of earnest Christian 
parents.” 

Time, which waits for no man, paid court 
neither to Mr. Nelson nor to his neighbor, Mr. 
Campbell. The curtain of black night now hid 
the purple, red, and gold of the western sky, and 
realizing the lateness of the hour the two men 
parted. 

“Good night,” said Mr. Campbell, rising to go. 

“Good night,” echoed Mr. Nelson, with thought- 
fulness in his tone. 


CHAPTER III. 


Choosing a Vocation 

O N her first visit to “The Pines” Miss Hunter 
felt so much at home that she was de- 
lighted to accept the cordial invitation to 
return the following Friday and stay until Satur- 
day evening. She found her hostess a very 
charming young woman, tall and well built, with 
a mass of fair, fluffy hair and large beautiful blue 
eyes. She was one of those naturally capable 
people who can do almost anything without 
making a failure ; was rather vacillating in char- 
acter but would do anything in the world for those 
whom she loved. It was well that her husband 
was her complement in this matter and the posses- 
sor of a well balanced mind, for he had to settle 
even the minor questions for his entire household. 
Her love for him amounted to adoration and even 
bordered on worship. She hung on his every 
word, quoted him as an authority, and was lost in 
his beliefs. Apart from him she would have been 
as a sheep without a shepherd, a sailor without a 
compass, a ship without a rudder. She was a de- 
voted wife and loving mother as well as a talented 
musician. Although one of the most charming of 

[ 20 ] 



of the truth as it is in Jesus. 





Choosing a Vocation 


23 


hostesses, she never bored her guests either with 
recitals of her own accomplishments or the won- 
derful attainments of her children. 

The home life at “The Pines ,, was different 
from anything Miss Hunter had ever seen before. 
Family worship, morning and evening, she had 
not been accustomed to and, in fact, it at first 
afforded her a great source of amusement. The 
family would assemble in a room where there 
was a piano and unite in a song. Jean had a sweet 
voice, but Donald, all unconscious that he was 
singing the song through on one note, would 
come racing in, as if his very life depended on 
it, with the words usually sung by the bass and 
tenor. The twins, seated on the floor, with books 
turned wrong side up, would try to make more 
noise than all the others put together. No notice 
was taken of the discord, however, and Miss 
Hunter concluded that the parents were very wise 
in not making the children feel self-conscious. 
Then would follow the reading of a portion of the 
Word of God, accompanied by a few comments 
bearing principally on God's way of salvation. 
Next came an earnest prayer in which God was 
invoked for the salvation of the young people. 
It was at one of these gatherings that Miss 
Hunter was led into a saving knowledge of the 
truth as it is in Jesus, and many times in the 
years that followed did she praise God for a home 
where He was honored and Christ glorified. 


24 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

Donald was a very affectionate child and Miss 
Hunter's sweet amiable disposition so appealed 
to him that he decided to change his mind and 
attend school. Fearing his plan would not meet 
with the approval of his mother, he confided a 
scheme to Miss Hunter. 

“I am going to school." 

“I fear your mother will not permit you." 

“ I won't tell her. I’ll just run away and she 
won't know until I have been a whole day at 
school." 

“Oh, that would never do, Donald, you must 
tell mother and have her consent." 

Miss Hunter said adieu Saturday evening, 
thinking she had dissuaded Donald from his 
purpose. She was surprised therefore one morn- 
ing to find him awaiting her, with the traces of his 
breakfast still around his mouth. 

“Well, Donald," she said, smiling at his ap- 
pearance, “you have come to school." 

“Yes," he answered, with a chuckle, “but mama 
doesn't know and you mus'n't tell her." 

“But little boys should tell their mama every- 
thing," said Miss Hunter tactfully, “and I'll tell 
you what we will do, Donald. I shall write a note 
to your mother and send one of the boys with it, 
telling her you are here and asking her permis- 
sion to let you stay all day. This will fix it for 
you, and at the same time keep your mother from 
worrying." 


Choosing a Vocation 25 

“But you won't let mama come and take me 
away V* 

“No, Donald, mama will not take you away, 
unless you want to go.” 

“Then I can stay with you all day,” said the 
proud boy, with a broad grin. 

A note was dispatched to “The Pines” immedi- 
ately and Donald was placed in a class with boys 
and girls older than himself. 

Miss Hunter was a strong believer in object 
lessons and used the blackboard freely. With 
a few strokes and a skilful touch she drew a 
Scotch collie on the blackboard. The children 
were always pleased with the pictures drawn by 
their teacher and it was amusing to hear their 
comments as she did the work. 

“Isn't he a 'beaut'?” said the boy who boasted 
that he was a dog fancier. 

“He's just like Nelson's Bruno,” commented 
another. 

“No,” said the boy who liked to get ahead of 
all the others, “he's like Ike Thompson's dog what 
runs before the sheep.” 

Finishing her work and looking at the class, 
Miss Hunter prepared to ask some questions, 
and noticing Donald's interest she said, 

“What kind of dog do you like, Donald?” 

“I like a great big blue dog,” he answered, with 
a satisfied grin. 


26 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

Laughter followed this remark and some time 
was lost before the class settled down to work 
again. Then with a few masterly strokes the 
teacher placed a number of sheep on the board 
and thinking this would interest her new pupil 
she asked, 

“How many feet has a sheep, Donald?” 

“Three,” was his ready reply in a loud and con- 
fident voice. 

This was too much for the class and Miss 
Hunter decided, for the sake of the school, that 
Donald had better stay at home until his parents 
considered it advisable to send him. 

The following Friday, as usual, she visited 
“The Pines” wondering, as she made her way to 
the home that she had grown to love, what new 
story Donald would have to tell her when she 
arrived. 

“Miss Hunter! Miss Hunter!” he called. 

“How do you do?” asked Miss Hunter, as she 
climbed the stairs to where her fervent admirer 
looked over the banister. 

“Do you know what I am going to be ?” he asked 
excitedly as she reached the landing. 

“No, Donald, but I am very much interested.” 

“I'm going to be a doctor,” he answered, unroll- 
ing a piece of linen that had been cut into strips. 

“Have you a sore finger?” 

“I am very sorry I cannot accommodate you,” 


Choosing a Vocation 


27 


she said smiling, “but my fingers happen to be 
quite whole at present.” 

The matter of a vocation was subject to change 
with Donald. Mr. Nelson, who was greatly 
amused at Donald's ever-changing program, 
suggested that he might become a minister. This 
did not seem to appeal to Donald. He had no 
natural religious tendencies and took every 
opportunity to avoid possible meetings. 

Moreover, the only minister he had ever known 
was the one who had served their church and 
who had become so unpopular with both old and 
young that he was requested to resign. 

Noticing that he hesitated somewhat Mr. Nel- 
son laughingly said, “Til tell you how you can 
find out, Donald. If you are fond of chicken, you 
are going to be a minister!” 

Mr. Campbell, who was a level-headed business 
man, decided that he would pay extra money 
yearly in. order to get a pastor for that rural 
district who would be able to do the work, and 
especially a consecrated man who would be 
interested in the spiritual welfare of the flock. 
Therefore, it was not surprising to find that the 
new minister was a young man, with a powerful 
and attractive personality and also a great heart 
of love for the souls of men. He exalted God, 
His Word, and His Christ in such a way that the 
spiritually-minded felt themselves lifted into the 
third heaven. Mr. Campbell noticed Donald's in- 


28 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

terest from the very moment the new minister 
began to speak. His attention was riveted on 
him. Little by little he moved forward until he 
was sitting on the very edge of the seat and with 
open mouth seemed to be drinking in every word. 
As soon as the benediction was pronounced he 
ascended the platform and took the minister by 
the hand. 

'‘Well, my boy,” said Mr. Marsh, as he took the 
boy's hand in his, “how are you?” 

Looking up into his face and simply ignoring 
the pastor's question Donald stammered, “Do 
you like chicken?” 

The question fairly took the young minister off 
his feet but, controlling his risibility with dif- 
ficulty, he replied: 

“Yes, my boy, I like chicken.” 

“Then it must be true,” said Donald with a 
sigh. “Mr. Nelson said that if I liked chicken 
I would be a minister, and I'd like to be a minister 
like you.” 

No greater compliment could have been paid 
to Mr. Marsh. As he heard the opinion of a child 
he thanked God and took courage. This strange 
introduction bound these two more strongly to- 
gether and started a life-long friendship, a friend- 
ship resembling that spoken of in John's Gospel 
when Jesus said, “Ye are my friends.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


The Spiritual Awakening 

T T°W do you manage your children?” asked 
I I a neighbor one day as she called at “The 
A Pines.” 

“I have no hard and fast rule to go by in the 
line of management,” said Mrs. Campbell, as she 
closed the door and shut out the noise that was 
emanating from the playroom. “I find I cannot 
go through the day according to schedule, but 
must be prepared as each new day comes to meet 
any emergency. There is no use trying to cross 
bridges before I come to them, so I just live a 
moment at a time, not knowing what the next 
moment will bring.” 

“Well, your children are not as bad as mine or 
you would require to have some plan. I declare 
I never saw such naughty children as mine. They 
lie, scheme, and are so destructive I wonder 
whether they are children at all. It seems as 
though the old devil is working mighty hard in 
their hearts at times. Anyhow they never 
learned their wicked ways from either their 
father or me.” 


[ 29 ] 


30 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

The picture of George III concentrating his wits 
upon the problem of discovering how the apple 
got into the dumpling came to Mrs. Campbell’s 
mind, and she smiled as she answered : 

“Mr. Campbell and I decided long ago that our 
children have in their very make-up a tendency 
to do wrong, to want their own way and to 
scheme, if necessary, in order to follow the 
desires of their hearts. I find my education is 
only beginning. At the present I am studying 
the art of being a detective. Nothing so brings 
my children to see how futile are their efforts to 
deceive as confronting them with facts, facts they 
cannot gainsay but which puzzle them to know 
how I ever came into possession of.” 

“Do you find it difficult to entertain them? My 
children cling to me so and act as though they 
are afraid to play.” 

“Well, that is one difficulty I do not have. Mr. 
Campbell does not believe in using the ‘don’t sys- 
tem’ unless they are found doing something 
wrong. They plan games and little entertain- 
ments and sometimes I join them and become one 
of them for the time being and they are always 
pleased. Listen! they are changing games now 
and starting something new. It is really funny 
some times to hear them.” 

“Let’s play church,” said Donald, as he arranged 
the furniture in the playroom. 


The Spiritual Awakening 


31 


“Who’s going to preach?” asked Jean, looking 
askance at her hitherto irreligious brother. 

“I’ll be preacher,” said that young gentleman, 
with a confident air. 

“Then I’ll be the organist,” said his sistef, 
seating herself at a stool on which she had placed 
an improvised keyboard. 

“I am Mr. Marsh, the new minister,” announced 
Donald to his congregation of stools and chairs, 
“and when I give out a song everybody must 
sing.” 

The twins joined them and a song was sung by 
the quartette with the usual discord, after which 
Donald led in prayer. In many ways the prayer 
was a good imitation of one that might have been 
offered by the one whom he was impersonating, 
though the new minister might not have been 
complimented if credited with being the author 
of the petitions. 

Taking his stand on a box which he had placed 
for a platform Donald began : 

“Gentlemen and ladies — ” 

“That isn’t right,” protested the organist, “it 
is ‘Ladies and gentlemen.’ ” 

“Oh, you don’t know,” answered the preacher, 
somewhat perturbed at the interruption, “you 
always want to be first, but we are going to put 
the men first this time.” 

“But Miss Hunter says, ‘ladies first always,’ ” 
said Jean, still holding her point. 


32 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

Miss Hunter arrived just in time to settle the 
dispute and attend the service. 

“Jean is right,” said the teacher. “When 
making a speech before a mixed audience (she 
smiled as she looked at the three females, the 
stools and chairs) you should always address them 
as ‘Ladies and gentlemen.' ” 

Having perfect confidence in the superiority of 
the teacher's opinion, he conceded the point and 
continued his speech. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, that there lady spoiled 
our meeting, — ” 

“Excuse me, Donald, but you should never say, 
‘that there,' there, in this case, is unnecessary. 
It is sufficient to say, ‘that lady.' ” 

No answer coming from Donald, Jean said, 
“You should thank Miss Hunter for the correc- 
tion.” 

“Thank you,” said Donald, with a smile at the 
teacher as he continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, 
this here meeting — .” 

“Oh, Donald,- Donald, what would your father 
say if he heard you use language like that? To 
say ‘this here meeting' is very incorrect.” 

“Le's play something else. It's too hard being 
a preacher,” said the aspiring orator, as he came 
down from his platform. “I thing I'll be an usher 
instead,” and he proceeded to change his position 
accordingly. 


The Spiritual Awakening 


33 


Miss Hunter had come to “The Pines” that 
evening to talk over some work in connection 
with a series of evangelistic meetings in which 
she was quite interested. She found kindred 
spirits in the Campbells, who were pleased that 
the pastor was to begin his ministry with a revival. 

The community had not had a series of evangel- 
istic meetings for many years and the spiritual life 
of the church was at low ebb. What church can 
live and keep its members alive that does not ex- 
perience “times of refreshing from the presence of 
the Lord”? 

In this effort the enthusiastic young minister 
had the full support and hearty sympathy of the 
Campbells, the Nelsons, and Miss Hunter, but also 
the opposition of many members of his church 
who were either asleep in their sins, or who had 
wandered so far away they had no heart for the 
things of God. 

The critics were heard to say, as the building 
was crowded night after night, “A new broom 
sweeps clean,” “This is but a flash in the pan,” 
etc. But the spiritually-minded knew that a man 
so clean, so true to the old-fashioned doctrines of 
the gospel of Jesus Christ, would be used of God in 
winning souls in spite of the opposition from the 
evil one, which was likely to come in these varied 
forms. So, fearlessly, he went on night after 
night, realizing that God does not ask for success 
— that belongs to Him alone — but only for faith- 


34 Donald Campbell 1 s Loyalty 

fulness. With this thought in mind he ploughed 
the fallow ground, sowed the seed of the Word 
and, like a good husbandman, looked for a harvest. 
The Lord for whose glory he was working did not 
disappoint him. 

The time came when he believed the net should 
be drawn. At the close of a very searching 
message, when the Spirit of God had spoken to 
many hearts, he had the people bow their heads 
and close their eyes. Very reverently they obeyed. 
Then he asked those who wanted to settle the 
great question of their soul's salvation to signify 
their willingness by the uplifted hand. Donald 
was the first to raise his hand, but quickly Janet, 
the maid with whom he had been sent to the meet- 
ing, put it down, saying, “It is not for you, Master 
Donald, you are too young.” 

But Donald was determined. Believing that he 
knew what he was doing, he promptly put up the 
other hand, which was as quickly put down by 
Janet. 

Unfortunately the minister did not see what 
had happened and the meeting closed with no re- 
sponse to the invitation. 

Donald walked home by the side of Janet in 
silence. Going to his room immediately he threw 
himself upon his bed and sobbed aloud. 

“What is the matter, Donald ?” asked his father, 
as he looked in and saw the signs of distress in 
Donald's face. 


The Spiritual Awakening 


35 


“Janet wouldn't let me raise my hand in the 
meeting and I wanted to be a Christian,” he 
sobbed. 

“What did she do, Don?” 

“She put my hands down, and said that I was 
too young, I didn't understand.” 

“She was wrong in that, Donald. You are not 
too young to become a Christian. God loves to 
save the young and let me tell you, Don,” he said, 
drawing him to his breast, “you can become a 
Christian here and now while father talks to you. 
God can save you anywhere.” 

“But I wanted to be saved in the meeting,” he 
continued between the sobs. 

Next night, although he was assured by his 
parents that the maid would not interfere with 
his convictions, he diliberately chose a seat on the 
other side of the building and listened most atten- 
tively. 

When the invitation was given he sat upright 
and, without waiting for anyone else to take the 
lead, he raised both hands. Delighted to see the 
earnest look in the boy's face and the fearlessness 
with which he raised his hands Mr. Marsh came 
down and had the joy of leading the first soul in 
his new parish to the Lord. 

“A little child shall lead them” was the thought 
that came to the minister, as he saw many people 
who had come for miles around that district, 
surrender themselves unto God. When the meet- 


36 


Donald Campbell's Loyalty 


mgs came to a close he felt how good it was to 
be in the will of God and to work for His glory, 
realizing the truth of the promise, “Forasmuch 
as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the 
Lord.” 


CHAPTER V. 


Wedding Bells 

NUMBER of guests assembled in the large 



living room at “The Pines” for Easter. 


-*■ Among the number was Miss Hunter, look- 
ing very sweet and pretty as she sat with Donald 
by her side. 

“You seem to like Miss Hunter,” said one of the 
guests, addressing Donald. 

“Yes, she is my girl and we are going be 
married some day.” 

“Oh! is that so?” said the guest, suppressing 
a smile with difficulty, but others heard the re- 
mark and soon there was much fun and laughter 
over Donald's confession and many questions were 
asked. 

“I'm going to take Miss Hunter to the city on 
Tuesday, I have enough money to buy her ticket,” 
and he rattled the coins in his pocket. “And I'll 
take her on the street car and we'll have dinner 
at the hotel and see the sights.” 

“Did you ask Miss Hunter whether she could go 
or not, Donald?” inquired his mother. 

“No,” answered Donald, “I know she can go.” 

“You had better make sure about it before you 
make your plans,” urged his mother. 


L37] 


38 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

Donald awaited his opportunity and, slipping 
around to Miss Hunter's side, said in a stage 
whisper, 

“Can you go?” 

“I am very sorry, Donald, but I cannot go at 
that time.” 

Disappointment was written all over his face, 
but turning quickly on his heel and rattling the 
money, he said, 

“Well, all the more for myself!” 

This caused much merriment among a few of 
those present who knew that on that day Miss 
Hunter had planned for a trip with Mr. Law- 
rence Marsh, the young minister. 

Donald could not understand the laughter, but 
when he learned later that Mr. Marsh and Miss 
Hunter were engaged to be married he was 
furious, and stopped speaking to both of them. 
He usually left the house when he knew they were 
coming, and could not be found anywhere. 

“Something must be done,” said Mr. Marsh one 
day, as he missed his young friend. So strolling 
out among the trees he found Donald and talked 
the matter over with him. 

What was said was known only to the two, but 
later, when Miss Hunter went out in search of 
them, she found Donald with eyes that spoke of 
weeping and Mr. Marsh with his arms around him, 
and they were friends. 


Wedding Bells 


39 


“Donald has decided,” said her fiance, “that by 
the time he would finish high-school and college 
you would be too old for him to marry.” 

“That is very sensible, Donald,” said Miss 
Hunter, putting her arms around him, “and we 
shall always be friends, shall we not?” 

“Yes,” answered Donald happily, “and Fm 
coming to visit you in the parsonage; then Fll 
have two friends instead of one.” 

The wedding day was fixed for the third of 
June. Mrs. Campbell, generous to a fault, proposed 
giving the wedding reception at “The Pines,” and 
making it one of the events of the season. She 
thought about it, talked about it and planned for 
it, until she had the entire family on tiptoe of 
expectation, and this was the topic of conversation 
all over that sleepy district. 

“Your plans are too elaborate,” said Mr. Camp- 
bell to his wife, as he saw how things were going. 

“Oh, no,” argued Mrs. Campbell, “I want to give 
a wedding such as I would give my own daughter 
if she were to marry an English nobleman.” 

“This will never do, mother, you are carrying 
this thing too far. I am sure that neither Miss 
Hunter nor Mr. Marsh approves of your extrava- 
gant tastes for a parson's wedding, and especially 
in a little country place like this.” 

“Oh, you are too old fashioned, Colvin. I am 
only going according to present-day fashions.” 


40 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

'That is just what I object to, mother,” said 
Mr. Campbell firmly. "Look at your dressmaker. 
I hope you will not be influenced by her in the way 
you and the girls will be dressed in the future.” 

"My dear Colvin, you have no question in your 
mind about her ability to do the work.” 

"None whatever,” said Mr. Campbell, only too 
well aware of his wife’s dependence on the judg- 
ment of others and her weakness to be led by a per- 
son of stronger mind than herself. "But I have a 
question about following her advice in everything. 
I believe in women being well dressed, so well 
dressed that they do not attract attention, but that 
cannot be said about your modiste. I wonder that 
you have not noticed her immodesty yourself. 

"Now, I have hesitated about saying anything, 
as I know women do not care to have men interfere 
with their fashions, but I am not blind to the fact, 
mother, that you are being influenced in a way 
that is not going to help our girls. 

"You know my theories along that line. I do 
not believe with the parents who teach their chil- 
dren that whatever is thrust on the market of 
fashion is right, irrespective of health or common 
decency. Dr. Elizabeth Waller rang true when 
she said that the only protection some women had 
from pneumonia was a lavalliere.” 

Mrs. Campbell cried, argued, protested against 
her husband’s criticism of the dressmaking and 
tried to convince him that she must keep step 


Wedding Bells 


41 


with the times. Her girls naturally wanted to 
lead in the fashions of that quiet little place, but 
she found that all remonstrance was vain, every 
suggestion of unmoral dressing was strictly pro- 
hibited by her husband. 

“Mother,” said Mr. Campbell, as the argument 
was concluded, “I am not arbitrary, but I 
believe in having a mind of my own and in doing 
what I think is right whether twentieth century 
fashions agree with me or not. As I watch how 
this old world is moving I find that the present- 
day mothers are preparing their daughters for 
the matrimonial market from childhood. They 
seem to have no convictions whatsoever about 
anything, and especially about morals. They 
dress their girls as the storekeeper dresses the 
models for his show window, their only aim being 
to attract attention and get them off their hands. 
Well, I would like my girls to be women in the 
truest sense of the word, women of character, 
well but modestly dressed, examples to the young 
people around them.” 

All plans for the wedding were dropped until 
an opportune time presented itself to consult Mr. 
Marsh and Miss Hunter, and it was found that 
they both agreed heartily with the sensible view 
of the matter taken by Mr. Campbell. 

The wedding day arrived. Miss Hunter had no 
living relatives, the only home she knew at pres- 
ent was “The Pines,” and around that beautiful 


42 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

old home circled many happy memories. It was 
there she learned her need of Christ and accepted 
Him as her Saviour. It was there that the doubts 
sown in her mind in college had been replaced by 
faith in the Word of the living God, and there she 
had met the man to whom she had given her 
heart and hand. 

The church was tastefully decorated. Ferns 
and palms, with a beautiful basket of roses on 
either side, adorned the rostrum. Down the aisle 
at every pew stood one of Miss Hunter's school 
girls, dressed in white, with a pretty bouquet of 
pink roses from “The Pines" garden. 

Miss Hunter was lovely to look at, leaning upon 
the arm of Mr. Marsh, as they walked down the 
aisle, unattended. She was dressed in a dark 
blue traveling suit, with a most becoming hat to 
match, and a corsage bouquet of bridal roses. 
The only ornament was a pearl brooch, the gift 
of the groom. 

The service was very beautiful, and the recep- 
tion which followed was a fitting climax to the 
happy occasion. As the “newly weds" drove away 
amid showers of confetti and rice, the plain coun- 
try folk, as well as the friends of the happy couple, 
felt comforted in the thought that they had not 
lost a valuable teacher in the resignation of Miss 
Hunter, but had gained in their pastor's chosen 
helpmeet one whose influence would be invaluable 
in the community. 


CHAPTER VI. 


Standards 


SPECIAL delivery letter, father,” said 



Donald, handing the missive to his father. 


“Humph! It is from your Uncle Ben- 
jamin. I wonder why he is sending a special de- 
livery?” said Mr. Campbell, turning the letter 
over in his hand and inspecting the envelope. 

“Open it and see,” laughed Donald, as he 
stepped impatiently off one foot on to the other. 

“You are right, my boy. I’ll never know the 
contents until I do.” 

Mr. Campbell had not seen his brother for sev- 
eral years. Their paths did not seem to cross. 
Benjamin Campbell was a keen and shrewd law- 
yer, very ambitious and fond of gaiety. He mar- 
ried a society woman, and they had one son and 
one daughter, who were being brought up in an 
entirely different mould from the family of his 
elder brother. Their summers were spent at some 
fashionable holiday resort and no communication, 
except on strictly business lines, ever passed be- 
tween the two families. It was the greater sur- 
prise, therefore, to receive this letter and read its 
contents, which ran as follows: 


[ 43 ] 


44 Donald Campbell* s Loyalty 

“Dear Colvin : 

“My wife and I have decided to pay you a visit 
this summer and give our children a chance to 
get acquainted with their cousins. We will reach 
‘The Pines’ by motor some time Friday. 

“Your brother, 

“Ben.” 

“Well, Donald, read it for yourself. This is quite 
a surprise, but I am mighty glad he is coming,” 
said Mr. Campbell with a smile, as he hurried off 
to tell his wife, while Donald went to find the girls 
and impart the news. 

Eagerly did the young people watch for the 
arrival of their guests, with whose actual pres- 
ence they were soon rewarded. As soon as the 
greetings were over and the travellers had had 
time to lay off their auto togs and get into more 
comfortable clothes, the two families assembled 
in the living-room for a chat. 

The men had much to talk about. Benjamin 
had so much to say — his brother looked older, the 
place was changed, but changed for the better, 
everything was looking fine. The women talked 
about their children, about holiday resorts, about 
summer clothing, dressmaking, etc., while the 
children stood and studied each other with that 
shyness and aloofness characteristic of child man- 
ners. Then, when the reserve had been softened by 
a smile, the boys rushed at each other as though 
each was anxious to test the other’s strength, and 


Standards 


45 


the girls hurried out to the porch with a chorus 
of yells. 

“Do you have a pony ?” asked Tom, the city boy. 

“No,” answered Donald, feeling rather ashamed 
of the fact that he was not the proud possessor 
of everything his cousin mentioned. 

This put an idea into his head and at the very 
first opportunity he made known to his father 
his desire to have a pony. Disappointment awaited 
him, as Mr. Campbell would not hear of it. The 
desire, however, remained with Donald and was 
accentuated on Sunday when a very sweet little 
missionary spoke to the Sunday-school. Among 
the stories told was one of a little girl who was 
anxious to have a doll and doll carriage ; knowing 
her people could not afford to buy it, she prayed 
and patiently waited for the answer. Two years 
later her faith was rewarded when she was pre- 
sented with a doll and carriage more beautiful 
than she had ever hoped to possess. 

“That is what I will do about the pony,” thought 
Donald, as his faith took on new impetus. His 
city cousin shared his room, so on reaching home 
he decided to slip away quietly to a place where, 
undisturbed, he might talk to God, for he be- 
lieved He would answer his prayers as He had 
those of the little girl. 

Entering her father’s room some time later, 
Jean, almost convulsed with laughter, said, “What 
do you think I heard, father?” 


46 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

“I am not a diviner of thoughts, Jean, you will 
have to tell me.” 

“Donald is praying in the trunk-room, and I 
heard him say, ‘0 God, if I pray for two whole 
years, will you give me a pony V ” 

“Well, Jean, the place and petition may seem 
strange to you but I see nothing to laugh at. Don- 
ald took the message of the afternoon literally. 
That is faith and you remember how it is put in 
the song — 

‘Victorious faith the promise sees 
And looks to God alone; 

Laughs at impossibilities 
And says, ‘It shall be done.’ ” 

Relating the story to his wife, Mr. Campbell 
said, “Donald shall have a pony, if I have to cross 
the continent to get one.” 

Benjamin Campbell was a very different man 
from his brother Colvin. He was proud and 
boastful, talked a great deal about himself, his 
home and family, and never seemed to lose sight 
of the personal pronoun I, either in conversation 
or actions. Despising the country school which 
his brother's children attended, he boasted that 
his family went to a private school and were not 
permitted to mix with the common folk who lived 
near them. This did not appeal to his brother 
Colvin, whose democratic ideas led him to follow 
the injunction “Condescend to men of low es- 
tate,” for amongst them he had found some of 



“Donald,” said Mr. Campbell, “I want you to take great 
and good men for your example along every line.” 



















































































Standards 


49 


God's choicest saints and he coveted their so- 
ciety more than the society of those who adhered 
to modem thought and placed environment and 
culture before salvation and Christ. He had not 
adopted new methods in regard to home and 
family life but taking the Bible as a guide book, 
had found a training in its precepts and a refine- 
ment in the grace it offered that modem schools 
might supersede, but could never equal. 

One of the unwritten laws of the household at 
“The Pines" was that both Mr. Campbell and Don- 
ald waited for mother and the girls to be seated 
at the table before they took their places, but 
since the arrival of Tom, the boys were the first 
to be seated. Mr. Campbell was grieved to see 
how quickly Donald was following the footsteps 
of his city cousin and, taking him to one side, he 
quietly rebuked him for this mark of discourtesy. 

“But, father, Tom does it, and he knows because 
he goes to a private school and lives in the city.” 

“Yes, Donald, he lives in the city and goes to a 
private school, but if he lived in a stable that 
would not make him a horse, would it?" 

“No.” 

“Donald,” said Mr. Campbell, as he put his 
arms around his boy's neck, “I want you to take 
great and good men for your example along every 
line and never be influenced by those who have 
low standards. Let me give you an example. You 
are taught in school that Abraham Lincoln was 


50 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

one of the grandest of men. Probably in his 
political addresses he adapted himself to the 
methods of thought acceptable to the men who 
heard him, for in descriptions of him he is often 
characterized as a rough backwoodsman, whom 
everybody addressed familiarly as ‘Abe/ In the 
home there was none of that, for Lincoln was a 
gentleman of the old school. He always arose 
when a woman entered the room and remained 
standing as long as she did; his courtly manners 
would put to shame the easy-going indifference 
to etiquette which characterizes many men today. 
I never heard of a man who on all occasions 
showed such unfailing courtesy to women as 
Abraham Lincoln. Now, Donald, you and I want 
to remember the women at our table and be as 
chivalrous as he.” 

While the parents sat under the overspread- 
ing branches of the beautiful trees on Sunday 
afternoon the children wandered away toward the 
river. They were not permitted to visit on the 
Lord’s Day but, willing to do anything in the 
world to please their citified cousins, Jean sug- 
gested that they visit the Nelsons. 

“Oh, yes, let’s go!” answered a regular chorus 
of voices, and off they scampered toward the Nel- 
son farm. It happened that Mr. and Mrs. Nelson 
were away from home visiting a sick relative and 
Marjorie and Ralph were alone. Giving their visi- 
tors a hearty welcome they took them to the roof 


Standards 


51 


garden, where they laughed, chatted and told 
stories for almost an hour. 

Feeling some qualms of conscience Jean sud- 
denly sprang to her feet, and approaching the 
ladder that led to the floor beneath, announced 
that she was going home. Marjorie tried to dis- 
suade her, but Jean was determined and, placing 
her foot on the ladder, said, “No, I’m going home.” 

The slanting steps being exposed to the weather 
were usually slippery, but not heeding this or 
thinking of the consequences, Marjorie, some- 
what peeved, gave Jean a push, saying, “Well, 
go on, then.” 

Losing her balance, Jean fell to the first land- 
ing, struck the banister and continued tumbling 
down one flight of stairs after another until she 
lay in a heap on the first floor. Fortunately, there 
was nothing in the way, and apart from some sore 
bruises she did not receive any serious injury. 
While waiting at the foot of the stairs for the 
others to arrive Jean was convinced that she had 
received punishment for her sin of disobedience, 
and concluded that in the future it would be 
better to obey her parents in regard to the ob- 
servance of the Lord's Day. 

They walked home together, Ralph and Mar- 
jorie accompanying them, a very sober party 
indeed, and as was their custom they told frankly 
where they had been and what had happened to 
Jean. 


52 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

Fearing she had sustained some internal in- 
juries, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell lost no time in 
taking Jean to a specialist, who, after a thorough 
examination, assured them that their fears were 
groundless. 

At breakfast time one morning, after the city 
friends had taken their departure, the family filed 
into the dining room and took their places at the 
table. A smile flitted over the face of Mrs. Camp- 
bell and glances were exchanged between her and 
her husband. 

“Donald, will you look on the front porch and 
see if there is a handkerchief of mine lying 
there ?” 

Quick as lightning he responded, for a request 
from his mother was like a command with Don- 
ald; he delighted to wait on her. It seemed a 
long time until his return, but finally he appeared 
in the doorway, his eyes wide open with astonish- 
ment. 

“Mother,” he said stammeringly, “I cannot see 
your handkerchief, b — , b — , b — , but there is a 
pony out there !” 

“All right, Donald,” said his father laughingly, 
“the Lord has answered your prayer in less than 
two years, hasn't He?” 

Donald did not understand his father's reason 
for refusing to give him the pony, but had been 
content in the thought that his heavenly Father 
would answer prayer. 


CHAPTER VII. 


Burglars 

T HERE was no high-school near ‘The 
Pines, 1 ” and the education of the Camp- 
bell children became a problem. Jean, 
under the able tutorship of Mrs. Marsh, their 
former teacher, was ready to enter her junior 
year and Donald had now reached high-school 
age. To send them to a boarding school, as Ben- 
jamin had suggested, did not appeal to Mr. Camp- 
bell. He loved his children so well that the thought 
of even temporary absence from home was pain- 
ful, therefore he contemplated leaving the coun- 
try and moving to the city, where he could give 
them the scholastic advantages that his position 
and their desires demanded, and at the same time 
keep around them the good influence of the home 
and the comforts of home life. 

At last the decision was made and “The Pines” 
was sold. Only then did it really dawn on this 
splendid, unselfish, home-loving man what it was 
going to mean to give up his childhood's home. 
As he strolled out on the lawn he thought that 
that was probably one of the very first objects 
traced on the retina of his infant eye when it 


[ 53 ] 


54 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

ranged beyond the inner walls of the home he 
was about to leave forever. Every step seemed 
to bring a new picture before his vision. Had 
he not often with tottering steps passed beneath 
these very archways of roses into the beautiful 
garden where he was permitted to play as a child 
for hours at a time ? Feeling keenly the sadness 
of farewell he wished with all his heart that he 
might end his days right there, for he loved the 
old place, every foot of whose grounds was dear 
to him. Nothing but the educational need of his 
family could induce him to go to the city. 

It was different with his brother, for Benjamin 
was a townsman. Educated in one city, married 
in a second, he was now practising law in a third. 
He had a home which he could use for his own 
convenience and forget, whereas with Colvin 
Campbell, “The Pines” was home. Truly he too 
had been educated in the city, but throughout the 
days of his college career no place could take the 
place of home in his life. Often he would say 
that three words had been great factors in mould- 
ing his character — Mother, Home, and Heaven. 
Love for his mother made him very tender and 
reverent when dealing with the weaker sex, while 
his love for his home saved him from many snares 
in youth and made him a power for God and 
humanity in the prime of life. His hope of heaven, 
that hope that was steadfast and sure within the 
veil, gave him an assurance in testifying for God 


Burglars 


55 


that brought conviction to many souls and created 
a desire to know Colvin Campbell's Saviour. His 
roots were stuck deep into the soil, for the scene 
he now surveyed was the same he had looked 
upon in the days of his boyhood and it was diffi- 
cult to say goodbye. 

After careful investigation, however, with the 
thought in mind of the higher schools of learn- 
ing, it was decided that Clemendale, a university 
city, with several large denominational colleges 
and seminaries, the city in which Benjamin Camp- 
bell lived, and also the place where Marjorie and 
Ralph Nelson were studying, would be their fu- 
ture home. 

With the young people, however, there was no 
sadness of farewell attendant upon their leaving 
“The Pines." It seemed lots of fun to pull up 
stakes and go to the city; they laughed, chatted 
about it and were as indifferent to sentiment in 
the matter as it was possible to be, except that 
they all voted for the transfer of the name, “The 
Pines," to their city home. 

The time for departure arrived. With great 
glee the young people piled into the large touring 
car for the trip ; the chauffeur was to take them, 
and their baggage, to the new home and return 
with Donald to bring the rest of the family the 
following day. Mrs. Benjamin Campbell arranged 
that the house would be in readiness and had her 
daughter Eloise stay with the girls over night. 


56 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

Eloise had changed, but not for the better. The 
autocratic training of a select boarding school 
had made no improvement, but rather increased 
her superabundance of pride and caused her to 
treat her country cousins with a condescending 
air. Boy-like Donald detected this affectation and 
did everything in his power to tease her. She 
looked upon him as just a country boy and did not 
hesitate to tell him so, saying in her most patron- 
izing way: 

“You will become smart and attractive when 
you have been in the city for some time, but at 
present your rough countrified manners will not 
be acceptable in real good society.” 

Donald's eyes flashed fire and, biting his lip, 
he turned away. Had she been a boy he knew 
what to do. Oh yes, he was a Christian boy, but 
there were times when it was right to believe in 
muscular Christianity. 

Before leaving on the return trip he gave the 
girls a volume of advice, suggesting with as- 
sumed seriousness that they look under the beds 
before retiring lest burglars should enter the 
home during his absence. 

Eloise heard all the warnings and injunctions, 
but smiled complacently at the thought of her 
country cousin talking this way about the city. 
What did he take that university street for? Did 
he think the highly educated people who lived all 
around them would ever come into the home to rob 


Burglars 


57 


it during the night? She was fairly disgusted 
and hoped he would not impose his company on 
her when moving in the same society of Clem- 
endale. 

However, when it was time to retire, Donald's 
injunction came to her mind, but with a proud 
shrug of her shoulders she disdained the thought. 
She could not banish it, however, and since there 
was no one looking, she decided to have just one 
peep. Her heart almost failed her, for sure enough, 
right under the bed in which she was to sleep 
she saw the form of a man. 

Forgetful of everything and everybody she 
rushed out, calling, “Police, police, police!" 

Soon a group of people gathered inquiring the 
trouble. 

“Burglars, burglars, burglars!" came the pierc- 
ing cry, as Eloise ran down the street. 

The girls followed Eloise outside but, feeling 
they must stay near the house, remained on the 
lawn. Hours seemed to go by before she returned 
with a stalwart policeman, who entered the house 
and made his way upstairs, with the authority of 
an officer of the law. 

Cautiously following him the girls were amazed 
to see his great form fairly shake with laughter 
as he stooped down and drew from under the bed 
the supposed burglar. Donald had shown his 
citified cousin that country folk are not all asleep 
and doubtless he would have been satisfied with 


58 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

his revenge had he witnessed the chagrin of 
Eloise when the policeman removed from two 
canes a pair of trousers and a pair of shoes. 

No country girl could have made a greater mis- 
take. What would the people say? This thing 
might appear in the morning papers, and especi- 
ally the fact that the girl who had done all the 
shouting had not been a country girl but the 
daughter of Benjamin Campbell! 


CHAPTER VIII. 


A Church Home 

0 sooner was the family settled than Mr. 



Campbell looked around for a church 


^ home, the choice of which was as import- 
ant as that of his own home. His brother, of 
course, was anxious to have them in the church 
which he attended as it was the most aristocratic 
one in the city. “Some of the greatest stars that 
have ever risen on the financial firmament attend 
this church,” he argued; “they come from mag- 
nificent homes so it will be worth your while to 
introduce your family into their society.” Mr. 
Campbell, however, was a man who was hard to 
convince. He believed in proving things for him- 
self. His motto was to take people as he found 
them, and to speak of them as he knew them. So 
with unprejudiced mind he planned to attend the 
service and judge for himself. 

The ministers theme on the following Sunday 
morning was the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and 
Mr. Campbell settled down to enjoy the beauti- 
ful story but what a surprise awaited this man 
whose faith was grounded in a living, loving 
Saviour when he heard the preacher of this fash- 


[ 59 ] 


60 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

ionable church, with scholarly phrases and well 
arranged sentences, actually deny the bodily 
resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke 
of the visions of the angelic Jesus which came to 
the people of that first century and which led 
them to believe that he had escaped from Sheol 
and ascended to heaven. “There is ample evi- 
dence,” went on the speaker, with a smile, “to 
show that this new faith was the direct result of 
visions of the risen Jesus experienced by certain 
leading members of the community,” and here the 
smile deepened and the speaker arose on tip toe 
that he might impress his audience the more, “but 
a study of the factors involved in this experience 
carries one over into the realm of primitive re- 
ligious psychology. Popular thinking in that 
day moved freely in the realm of what moderns 
call supernaturalism. Belief in the possibility and 
reality of apparitions was firmly established 
among the populace.” 

“Well, brother, how do like our church?” asked 
Benjamin Campbell, as he placed his hand on his 
brother's arm and led the way down the steps. 

“From an architectural viewpoint the building 
is beautiful.” 

“Yes.” 

“And from an artistic point of view you no 
doubt have the prettiest decorations and stained 
glass windows to be found anywhere.” 


A Church Home 


61 


“That is true. The window at which you were 
seated cost ten thousand dollars and it is not a 
large one either.” 

“From a sculptural viewpoint your statuettes 
are very fine imitations of the real thing.” 

“Come now, brother, you are making fun of the 
whole thing. I suppose a little plain old building 
like you had at ‘The Pines’ would suit your taste 
better.” 

“I believe in giving to God as good a house as 
I live in myself, but I also believe ‘that only the 
best is good enough for Jesus and the surround- 
ings would never outshine the beauty of the story 
told from the pulpit in the church that I had any- 
thing to do with.” 

“Don’t you think we have a most wonderful 
preacher?” 

“Yes, I will admit that you have a wonderful 
preacher, but if I were in his place I would never 
waste my time going into the pulpit with a 
message like the one we listened to.” 

“You are far too old-fashioned, brother. Popu- 
lar opinion is on this man’s side and you might 
as well get into the swim.” 

“I know, Benjamin, that popular opinion is on 
the side of men like the one to whom we have 
just listened, but let me tell you something: if 
that fellow had not the backing of the poor dupes 
of the devil to whom he is preaching, he would not 
have enough backbone to stay in this town or in 


62 


Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 


the ministry one day. He has no convictions. He 
is just parroting what he learned in the universi- 
ties of Germany and there is neither soul nor 
spirit, except the evil spirit, back of anything 
he says. God was not in the message nor in the 
church, and if the Lord will forgive me this time 
I will promise Him never again to be guilty of 
ever standing in a building where His Word is 
denied as it was in that place this morning.” 

“Colvin, you are making a big mistake. This 
man is a man of brains and intellect, graduated 
at one of the finest universities in Germany, and 
was chosen by this congregation because they 
wanted modernism and not antiquity.” 

“Give me the antique shop then, Ben, when it 
comes to religion and God. The old-fashioned 
nursery faith is sufficient for me and my family. 
I will accept no ‘made-in-Germany’ religion. 
Goodbye to your modernism. I refuse to bow 
down to such a fetich, for I believe it is of the 
devil.” 

“You have always been a strong-minded man, 
Colvin, but your family will accept this teaching 
in the schools of learning.” 

“With the help of God, Ben, I will save them 
from feasting on such pernicious intellectual 
sweets. These things may be highly esteemed 
among men of the world, but I tell you they are 
an abomination with God. They thrust Him from 
His creature’s thoughts and inshrine a host of 


A Church Home 


63 


polluting idols in His place. They unnerve the 
mind, pervert the judgment, and wrap the soul in 
a vain solace of unsubstantial belief that will rob 
them of the consolation of the gospel and keep 
them from the only One who can save from sin, — 
the Son of the living God.” 

“Oh, Colvin, you are impossible.” 

“Benjamin, I will stand for the truth of God if 
I have to stand alone, and I want to tell you that 
the originators and propagators of this propa- 
ganda whose source is the devil, are conceited 
enough to think that Paul and the other New 
Testament writers would have learned much had 
they postponed their work until it could have been 
censored by their authority. But let me tell you, 
boy, that for nineteen centuries the church, in 
the large sense, has accepted the resurrection of 
Jesus Christ as a fact of history, the proof of His 
deity, the foundation for forgiveness and human 
salvation. It is not an imitation of heathen 
myths, but a stupendous and glorious fact, an- 
nounced by Jesus, testified to by many witnesses, 
an integral element of Christianity, interwoven 
into the structure of the New Testament. That 
first Lord’s Day morning does not tantalize us 
with an apparition, it gives us a risen, living 
Christ. 


64 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

‘He lives! He lives! What glorious consolation 
Exalted at His Father’s own right hand; 

He pleads for us, and by His intercession 
Enables all His saints by grace to stand.’ ” 

It was not long until, to the chagrin of these 
worshippers of modernism, Colvin Campbell and 
his family settled in a little downtown church, 
where the truth of God was taught and Jesus 
Christ exalted. 

“How many members of your family will join?” 
asked the minister, as they applied for member- 
ship. 

“Just those who have been born again,” 
answered Mr. Campbell, who always made it clear 
to his family that he wanted them in the church 
family, but that God's order was, “The Lord added 
to the church daily such as were being saved.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


Decisions 

T HE fall brought the opening of high- 
school. There was great excitement for 
Jean and Donald. Jean was a jolly junior 
and Donald, a verdant freshman. These two were 
chums in the truest sense of the term. Never 
were brother and sister more devoted to each 
other. They were never separated ; their studies, 
their plays, their walks, their plans, their hearts, 
were always one. That holy bond which the Lord 
has woven, that inestimable blessing of fraternal 
love and confidence, was never broken. Donald, 
like his father, was one of the strongest, manliest, 
most decided, and most intrepid characters 
imaginable. In manner he was sweet, gentle, 
courteous, as one who is accustomed to look with 
protecting tenderness on an associate weaker than 
himself. Jean, too, had inherited her father's 
strength of character. Her constant companion- 
ship with her brother cultivated in her a habit of 
deference for man's judgment and submission 
to his authority. 

Mr. Campbell kept close watch on their studies, 
and was determined to prevent the modernists, 


[ 65 ] 


66 Donald Campbell’ s Loyalty 

who had captured the schools, from controlling 
the thinking of his children: for “the youthful 
mind is wax to receive, and marble to retain.” 
This fact made him praise the Lord for the 
decision to have the young people with him in the 
home, since impressions made at this plastic age 
would remain with them throughout life. 

There was considerable rivalry between the two 
Campbell families. Benjamin thought his children, 
with their private school opportunities, would far 
outshine his brother's family, though in the last 
analysis “The Pines” children were far in advance 
of both Tom and Eloise. 

Eloise took little interest in her lessons and was 
surprised to see how much time and attention 
were given to study in the home of her uncle. 

“You people take things far too seriously,” she 
said, as she found Mr. Campbell helping the young 
people with a knotty question. 

“What do you do with your work, Eloise?” 
asked her uncle. 

“Oh, I don't bother much about mine. For 
instance, take the composition on current events 
that I was to write, I looked over the papers and 
magazines and found an article just the right size 
and copied it word for word and got good marks 
without puzzling my brain about it.” 

“That is dishonest,” said Jean promptly. 


Decisions 


67 


“Well, thinking is too hard work,” answered 
Eloise, with calm indifference to either honesty 
or principle. 

“It is well you are Benjamin’s daughter and not 
mine,” said Mr. Campbell with disgust, “for you 
would earn every mark you got in school.” 

“Oh, I don’t need to. My father is one of the 
trustees and my English teacher knows better 
than have me flunk. It is a good thing to have 
a father who is influential.” 

“Eloise Campbell!” said her uncle sternly, “I 
would be heartily ashamed of myself to let anyone 
hear me make such a statement.” 

Eloise had been at “The Pines” for dinner. 
She talked a great deal and did not hesitate to 
interrupt at any time. During the time that she 
was talking she never looked at any of the people 
around the table but constantly carried her eyes 
from her plate to the handsome beveled mirror 
in the buffet just opposite, showing very clearly 
that her thoughts were centered upon herself. 
Mr. Campbell was never so disgusted with anyone 
in his life and as he compared this aspiring 
society girl to his strong healthy daughter he 
prayed that she might never fall into the same 
trap. 

“May I have some of your time today?” asked 
Dr. Samuel Kerr, as he met Mr. Colvin Campbell 
on the street. 


68 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

“Certainly. I’ll go with you now. We can chat 
in the church office, can we not?” 

“That is where I usually settle all my ques- 
tions,” laughed the pastor of the down-town 
church which the Campbell family attended. 

The office was a very comfortably furnished 
room in the rear of the building and the place, 
as the pastor had said, where many perplexing 
questions were settled. 

Dr. Kerr was a man of some fifty years. He 
was battle-scarred in the work of the Master, for 
he had stood out for the truth of the Word of 
God in spite of opposition from many sources. 
He was fearless in his presentation of the gospel, 
ever contending “for the faith which was once for 
all delivered unto the saints.” 

“My reason for infringing upon your time just 
now is to present to you the need for special 
meetings. What is your mind in the matter?” 

“I am right with you when it comes to evan- 
gelistic meetings. I believe in them with all my 
heart. To me they are times of refreshing from 
the presence of the Lord, and we need them.” 

“That is just how I feel. You are the only 
person other than the Lord to whom I have 
mentioned the burden that has been on my heart, 
and I think we should present the matter unitedly 
to Him before bringing it to the committee.” 

“What have you in mind in regard to help?” 


Decisions 


69 


“I have been thinking of an evangelist whom the 
Lord is using everywhere he goes, and I am hoping 
He will send him our way. The field is white unto 
the harvest.” 

Together these splendid men prayed over the 
vital question of casting the net on the right side 
of the ship and bringing in the souls for whom 
Jesus died. 

It was a wonderful prayer meeting. Dr. Kerr 
marvelled at the man who could hurl his anathe- 
mas in the very teeth of the enemies of high 
ideals both in education and religion and fight 
fearlessly in his stand for righteousness, now on 
his knees pouring out his soul to God in tender 
pleading for the unsaved in the church, and 
especially for those of his own household. Was 
not this the spirit of Christ who, on the one hand, 
could drive the money changers from the Temple 
and, on the other, weep over Jerusalem as ten- 
derly as a mother might weep over her babe ? 

Soon afterwards the committee met. The call 
was sent to the evangelist and arrangements were 
completed for the meetings. 

Everything was done at “The Pines” to help 
the young people give as much time as possible 
to the campaign. No excuses were accepted in 
that home. Other things were planned without 
interfering with school; why interfere with the 
most important thing of all — meetings where God 
wanted the ear of the young people? 


70 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

With what interest Mr. Campbell watched the 
work go ! First, there was cool indifference on the 
part of Jean and Donald. They went to the meet- 
ings, of course, and talked freely about the 
speaker, his appearance and personality, his dress 
and manner, his voice and language. 

“I wonder when they will get past the man to 
his message ?” asked Mr. Campbell, after listening 
one night to these things that had been discussed 
so often. 

“Just have patience, Colvin. They will come 
to that after a while,” answered his wife. 

At last the change came. The evangelist gave 
the same gospel they had heard from childhood, 
but put it in a different way from anyone else. It 
was the same Truth, coming in the voice and 
language of a stranger, and it was taking effect. 
They asked questions, agreed or disagreed, as the 
case might be, and still the father watched. The 
meetings had been going on for two weeks, and 
now Mr. Campbell was looking for a definite an- 
swer to his prayers ; God did not disappoint. 

One Friday night, the young people had been 
specially invited. The subject was “God’s Only 
Way of Salvation.” It was based on the story of 
the children of Israel leaving Egypt. The escape 
from death of the first-born of Israel, because of 
the slain lamb and the sprinkled blood, was por- 
trayed so vividly that all who were not safely shel- 
tered beneath the blood-stained banner of the 


Decisions 


71 


cross were brought to the place where they saw 
their danger and the requirement of nothing less 
than the blood of the Son of God for their 
salvation. 

Jean knew her need. The truth had been put 
before her many times by faithful pastors, Sun- 
day-school teachers, and also by her father. Dur- 
ing these two weeks she attended the meetings 
nightly and very wisely her father kept out of the 
way, while the Holy Spirit did His work. He was 
a strong believer in conviction of sin before 
decision for Christ; in real possession of eternal 
life rather than making; a profession without 
reality. That profession is not possession Mr. 
Campbell had told the young people again and 
again. 

On this particular night, Jean had invited 
several of her school-girl friends, and the struggle 
was all the greater on that account, but God’s 
Word did its work. She realized the first born in 
her father’s family was not safe. She had lived 
a good life, but was well aware of the fact that 
she had never been born again. The blood had 
never been applied, her sins had never been for- 
given. That she was a sinner she knew, for God’s 
Word said so and she believed it. Then came 
the question, “Why not step out tonight and 
accept the Son of God as my substitute and 
Saviour?” Such a question could not escape the 


72 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

notice of the evil one and immediately he began 
his fight for her soul. 

'These high-school girls will tell it to the en- 
tire school on Monday.” 

The argument was weak, for Jean had enough 
of her father's backbone to face a regiment for 
her convictions. 

"You are young. Put the decision off until you 
have graduated.” 

Jean knew God's Word too well to listen to 
such a suggestion and the Holy Spirit pleaded, 
‘Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the 
day of salvation.' 

"The high-school girls will not be here Monday 
night. You will be safe in waiting to that time,” 
was his final thrust. 

The struggle was awful; the time was going; 
the people were praying and something must be 
done. Listen! what was that? Someone was 
singing, 


“You must do something with Jesus, 
You must do something tonight, 

You must decide this great question, 
You must do something tonight. 

“You must do something with Jesus, 
You must do something tonight, 

Will you reject? or, will you accept? 
You must do something tonight. 


Decisions 


73 


“No neutral ground can be taken, 

You must do something tonight, 

You must be for or against Him, 

You must do something tonight. 

“With God there is no tomorrow. 

You must do something tonight, 

Now you can have this salvation, 

You must do something tonight.” 

Leaning over to her friends, Jean said, ‘‘Girls, I 
do not know how you feel, but I must settle this 
question now. I am not a Christian. God is call- 
ing me, and I must go. I have never been born 
again, and this most important question must be 
settled tonight.” 

She was at the end of the seat and, with a 
most determined lools on her face and with tears 
in her eyes, she walked down the aisle and 
publicly confessed her acceptance of the Son of 
God as her personal Saviour. 

There was great rejoicing over her decision. It 
was well know she had never made a profession 
before and her friends knew that when she did 
come out for God she would not come half way, 
hers would be a clean-cut surrender. 

That night, as they entered their home, Mr. 
Campbell took Jean by the arm, and said, “I am 
so glad, Jean, that you are safely sheltered behind 
the blood.” 

For a moment her large eyes looked her father 
squarely in the face but not a word was spoken. 


74 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

Then, throwing her arms around his neck, she 
sobbed aloud. 

“It is all right, Jean, dear. I know just what 
you have gone through. I have passed through 
the very same experience, but I am glad it is 
settled and that in our Father’s Home there is 
rejoicing tonight. Let me tell you something, 
girlie. The Christ whom you have accepted as 
your Saviour tonight will perfect that which He 
has begun in your heart, and I hope some day to 
see you give yourself to Him for service.” Then, 
kissing her goodnight, he sent her off to her room. 

“When will my turn come ?” said Donald, as he 
waited for a chance to speak to his father. 

“Come to my den, Donald,” said Mr. Campbell, 
as he took his boy’s arm and led the way upstairs. 

“I have just been wondering about you, Donald, 
and have been talking to God about you. I knew, 
of course, that you would come to me when you 
were ready. Now just what is your trouble?” 

“Well, father, I was saved when I was just a 
little boy out in our old country church.” 

“I remember that distinctly.” 

“I was very young and did not know much, but 
I was sincere and the best I knew how I took 
Christ as my Saviour.” 

“I believe you did, Donald.” 

“Is it necessary for me to do the same thing 
over again ?” 


Decisions 


75 


“No, Donald, if you are sure you are saved it 
is not necessary.” 

“I have never had a doubt about it, father. Oh, 
I have been just as tricky as boys usually are, but 
the fact that Christ was dwelling in my heart 
kept me from yielding to many temptations and 
helped me do many things that would otherwise 
have been hard for me.” 

“Well, then, what is your trouble now?” 

“Just this. While I have been enjoying salva- 
tion and reading my Bible faithfully I have not 
been following the Lord. I have not joined the 
church, have not testified, have not tried to win 
one of my friends to Christ. I have gone on the 
theory that I would live Christ before them and 
have been sincere so far as I know, but I have 
never spoken to them about my Saviour.” 

“That means that you now see a need for a fully 
surrendered life.” 

“Something, father. I am not satisfied and I 
want Christ to have my whole life.” 

“I see your point, Donald, and I think what 
you are seeking after is consecration. Is it not?” 

“I do not understand the full meaning of that 
word, father, but I want to give myself to God for 
service. How am I to do it?” 

“Just as you received from God a full Christ, 
that was salvation, so you yield a full life back to 
God, that is consecration.” 

“How do I do it ?” 


76 Donald Campbell’ s Loyalty 

“Surrender definitely, irrevocably, here and 
now.” 

“That is just my difficulty, father. I have tried 
to make this surrender but I do not feel any 
different.” 

“It is not a matter of feelings. It is a matter 
of believing. Feelings are only mentioned twice 
in the New Testament and in neither case can you 
apply them to yourself as you surrender to the 
claims of Christ. God never appeals to your feel- 
ings, but always to your reason and your intellect. 
T beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies 
of God, that ye present your bodies a living 
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your 
reasonable service or spiritual worship/ There 
is not a word about feelings in that verse, yet it is 
making a full surrender of body, soul, and spirit 
unto God. Make the surrender and believe it is 
done without any ecstatic emotions at all, without 
any internal convulsions. Such a surrender is 
accompanied by an unvarying sense of weakness, 
— your weakness, — but with this promise, 'When 
I am weak, then am I strong/ You are going to 
lean on, and trust in the Strong One for the 
coming days. May the Lord bless you richly, my 
boy, and use you for his glory! The word con- 
secration means, 'Fill the hands/ As the days 
go by God will fill the hands that are yielded to 
Him; in other words, He will meet your every 
need and help you in each trying hour.” 


Decisions 


77 


Placing his hand in that of his father, Donald 
said, “I understand.” Together they knelt while 
Donald made a full surrender of his life to the 
Master who had saved him. 

The “inseparables,” as Jean and Donald were 
called, both felt burdened for the work of the 
Master. Jean felt a clear call to the foreign field 
as a missionary, while Donald’s desire was to be a 
minister of the gospel. Dr. Kerr was his ideal of a 
man called of God. As he heard him exalt those 
things that endure for ever above those that perish 
in the using, with spiritual insight, clearness of 
vision and wealth of illustration; in a voice that 
possessed such moral resonance that men’s nerves 
tingled; he longed for the time when he might 
carry such a message to the hearts of men and 
plead with them to be reconciled to God. 

Mr. Campbell was delighted to give back to God 
at least two of the young people in his home. He 
was the only person, however, who was in 
sympathy with them; their uncle laughed at 
them; their cousins called them “Sky Pilot,” a 
“Goody-goody,” and Mrs. Campbell, always in- 
fluenced by those who were stronger minded than 
herself, was swayed by public opinion and showed 
no signs of exuberance over the choice of their 
vocation. 

How sad when young people are handicapped 
by opposition in the home! Yet it is opposition 


78 


Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 


that develops determination and determination 
properly directed, makes character. 

Mr. Campbell was careful not to express to the 
children his opinion of his wife’s vacillating 
character. 

He loved his wife dearly, but could not close 
his eyes to the fact that she was swayed by the 
influences that swept across her path, and was not 
always wise in her indulgences with her family. 


CHAPTER X. 


A Chip of the Old Block 

AT the close of the campaign, when the doors 
r\ of the church were thrown open for the 
reception of new members, Dr. Kerr was 
delighted to think that among those who were 
given the right hand of fellowship were Jean and 
Donald Campbell. 

Ever since his installation, the choir and usher 
force had been a problem to Dr. Kerr, but now he 
felt the opportune time had arrived for a house 
cleaning. He confided to Mr. Campbell the hope 
that the young people, seeing their responsibility, 
would help make the satisfactory changes. 

“Leave it to them!” said Mr. Campbell, laugh- 
ing like a school boy. “These young Christians 
could teach some of us older ones very valuable 
lessons if we were only willing to receive them.” 

Up to this time, “The Pines” family had never 
been separated during the services of the church. 
That it was detrimental to the young people to 
be removed from the watchful care of their par- 
ents in the house of God was a deep-seated con- 
viction with Mr. Campbell. But when Jean, who 
was said to have a very lovely voice, was given a 
[ 79 ] 


80 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

place in the choir and Donald was put on the 
usher force, he raised no objection, but watched 
the outcome with keen interest. 

Jean was a general favorite and received a 
hearty welcome into the choir, where her help was 
apparently appreciated. Jean knew that talking, 
laughing, and passing notes was a diversion in- 
dulged in freely by this group during the service. 
It was easy to criticise from the audience for she 
abhorred such conduct, but now being one of the 
members she felt she had to be polite and answer 
their questions. From her vantage point in the 
choir, she could see the ushers, who were seated 
together at the back. Very dignified did they look 
when, at the appointed time, they marched for- 
ward, took up the offering and then returned to 
their places in a most mechanical way. This ap- 
parently ended their duty and they settled down 
for a time of entertainment during the sermon. 
They talked and laughed with a group of young 
women who deliberately seated themselves near 
the ushers for the purpose of engaging them in 
conversation, and, in fact, had a hilarious time. 

“Well, Donald Campbell, I am surprised at 
you!” 

“Surprised at me!” said Donald, realizing that 
there was trouble brewing when Jean gave him 
his full name. 

“Yes, for the way you talked during the ser- 
mon today.” 


A Chip of the Old Bloch 


81 


“Oh!” he answered, with a sigh of relief, “the 
fellows did keep up a constant chatter.” 

“And the girls, too. I saw you talk to them.” 

“I know, Jean, but I had to be polite.” 

“Well, I can sympathize with you, Donald. I 
am having the same trouble in the choir.” 

“What shall we do about it?” 

“I thought I had a solution for the problem 
this morning.” 

“What was it?” 

“That you start a reformation among your 
noble company of ushers.” 

“Good,” laughed Donald, “and you start a re- 
formation society among your noble band of 
singers.” 

“I am heartily ashamed of the choir and dis- 
gusted with myself for taking part in the dis- 
turbance during the service.” 

“I am glad to hear you say that, Jean. Do you 
know what you looked like this morning?” 

“No,” said Jean, knowing her brother always 
saw the ludicrous side. 

“With all those hats bobbing around and all 
those mouths going so mechanically, you looked 
like a tin soldier or a Punch and Judy show.” 

“Was it really as bad as that, Donald?” 

“That is not fun, Jean, it is fact. I am sorry 
my sister was one of the number. 

“I am more than ashamed, Donald.” 

“What are you going to do about it?” 


82 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

“I do not know. I went into the choir, hoping, 
in addition to the blessing received from the serv- 
ice, I could do something for the Lord, but I do 
not even get a chance to hear the message.” 

“Will you tell them about it?” 

“For one so new as I to speak to them would 
seem like presumption.” 

“Will you resign then?” 

“That would seem cowardly. What do you 
intend doing, Donald?” 

“I shall call a meeting of the ushers, present 
the matter and have them take action on it. I 
am as old as any of the young men on the usher 
force and I have that privilege.” 

“That seems so easy, Donald, but you are always 
so strong and can take the initiative, but I hesi- 
tate because there are women in the choir so much 
older than I and then there are men.” 

“Why not speak to father about it?” 

“Oh, I know what he would say. He would tell 
me that we have to learn to fight our own battles.” 

“That is what he calls making character, is it 
not?” said Donald, laughingly. 

Perhaps it is making character, but I fear be- 
fore this thing is over there will not be much left 
of me.” 

“Well, I wish I could help you, Jean,” said Don- 
ald reflectively. Then as though a solution had 
come to the problem, he said, “Why could we not 


A Chip of the Old Block 


83 


pray about it? Can we not take everything to 
God in prayer?” 

So together they knelt at the throne of grace 
and each one was careful to confess the sin of 
joining in the disturbance of the church service 
by thoughtless conduct. As they claimed for- 
giveness and asked for help to stand, if they 
should have to stand alone, they got the assur- 
ance that God hears and answers prayer. Little 
did they realize as they faced their first battle in 
the church what it would mean to them then and 
in later years. 

In speaking of it afterwards to Mr. Campbell, 
Dr. Kerr said, "It was just what we needed in 
our church. I have prayed for God to raise up 
young people with courage, conviction, and initia- 
tive who would take the lead; then others will 
follow.” 

‘They still need our prayers,” answered Mr a 
Campbell. “Their battles are not all over.” 

"And they shall have them,” confidently an- 
swered the pastor. 

The meeting of the ushers was well attended and 
as Donald presented his opinion of their exam- 
ple and conduct in the house of God, a solemnity 
fell on the meeting that made every boy think, 
Donald was a leader. He had a strong person- 
ality and a winning smile which gripped his audi- 
ence when he presented any matter of import- 
ance. The boys seemed to catch his viewpoint 


84 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

and when he finished no thought of disapproval 
was in their minds. Rising, one of them said: 
“Inasmuch as there are no rules and regulations 
in the society of ushers, this thing has been done 
thoughtlessly by young men who wanted to be 
jolly good fellows. But now that it has been 
brought to our attention, I suggest that rules be 
made and signed by all present, that in the future 
every new usher added to the force shall be re- 
quired to read and conform to them.” 

The motion carried and soon a book of rules 
and regulations was presented to the chairman of 
the society and was adopted with unanimous vote. 
Donald merely stated the case without offering a 
suggestion and the boys made the rules. Assur- 
ing them of his help and sympathy and also his 
approval of their plan to have a half hour prayer 
meeting before each morning service, he sug- 
gested that they now present their plans to God 
in prayer, to ask His richest blessing upon their 
work in the future. 

When it became known that the boys were to 
change their conduct the testing time came; the 
mother of one of the leaders in the disturbance 
objected. 

“So you will not be allowed to talk in church 
in the future,” she said, with a tantalizing smile. 

“No,” answered her boy sulkily. 

“And you will have a prayer meeting,” with a 
laugh. 


A Chip of the Old Bloch 


85 


“Yes.” 

“Well, they are trying to make angels out of 
you boys, and I don’t think they can do it.” 

The following Sunday that mother’s boy did 
not attend the ushers’ prayer meeting but arrived 
at the church in company with the girls, and 
seated them as usual right in front of the ushers. 

Donald saw that a conflict was imminent and 
with a prayer for help, took his place, fastened his 
eyes on the pastor and prepared to listen to the 
message and receive all the blessing the Lord had 
in store for him. 

“Pauline says, ‘What is the matter with you ?’ ” 
said the young man who had seated himself be- 
side Donald. 

No answer forthcoming, he smiled and shook 
his head at the girl. f 

“Bess says you are spoiling all the fun.” 

This advance elicited no response from Don- 
ald, and the crestfallen young man comprehended 
that the rules and regulations on the books were 
not placed there for show. 

At the evening service the rebellious member 
joined the group and immediately began to make 
fun of Donald for his sanctimonious look of the 
morning. The others joined in the laughter and 
teased about it for a while until it became per- 
sonal. Then like a flash of lightning the refined 
young fellow who sat beside Donald and admired 
his courage and strength of character, said: 


86 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

“Donald was right.” 

“Oh, he was?” sneered the incorrigible boy. 

“Yes, he pledged himself, like the rest of us, 
to pay attention to the sermon and not disturb 
the service, and he kept his word.” 

“He had no business asking us to make any 
such promise,” said the unruly one. 

“He did not ask us to promise anything,” 
argued Donald’s champion. “We voted ourselves. 
It is down in black and white. You see I happen 
to be the secretary of the society.” 

“That is right,” came a chorus of voices. 

During the sermon Donald’s silence was noticed 
by the more thoughtful boys and laughed at by 
the scoffer. The battle was a hard one but, with 
the support of the boys who were on their honor, 
Donald led them to victory, while the one whose 
mother thought they were trying to make an 
angel out of him resigned from the usher force 
and joined her in the pew. 

In the meantime, Jean also found her battle 
severe. She was determined to give her best at- 
tention to the sermon from beginning to end, but 
was constantly disturbed by the volley of ques- 
tions directed at her. With a prayer for grace 
to be courageous she ignored every one and even 
refused to pass a note that lay on her lap from 
the time Dr. Kerr announced his text. 

“What happened to Jean Campbell today?” 
asked one of the choir members. 


A Chip of the Old Bloch 


87 


“Oh, I suppose she means to fight us as her 
brother fought the ushers,” said another. 

“Those Campbells are always fighting,” chimed 
in a third. “Their father is never happy unless 
he is in a scrap.” 

“Whom does he fight?” 

“The school board, and the trouble is he always 
gets his way.” 

“Well, she is not going to get her way with 
me,” said the first speaker. “She was rude 
enough to let that note lie on her lap without 
passing it, but she is mistaken if she expects to 
put me out of the choir as her brother put my 
brother off the usher force.” 

“Did he do that?” 

“Not exactly, but he made it so uncomfortable 
for him with what he called 'principle' that 
brother had to go, but 'believe me' she cannot 
drive me from the choir like that. If anyone 
must leave it will be the last comer.” 

That evening the atmosphere was tense. All 
eyes were on Jean and she felt intuitively that 
most of the whispering was about her, but with 
a prayer for help she took her place in the choir 
and without hesitation prepared to listen to the 
message. 

Soon a note was passed down and placed on her 
lap. Oblivious to everything but the speaker she 
paid no attention. Then came a request to pass it 
on, but never swerving one iota from her stand- 


88 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

ard, and unwilling to compromise her convictions, 
she ignored the request. The service closed and 
the choir filed out to the cloak room, where Jean 
was as bright and happy as could be. Right 
always prevails, especially when backed up by 
prayer. Others followed her example thus mak- 
ing the few who continued the disturbance of the 
service to look so foolishly conspicuous that they 
resigned. The battle had not been in vain. Not 
only had Jean’s character been strengthened, but 
the church had undergone a complete change, and 
the new choir was made up of members who were 
not frivolous, but consecrated young men and 
women whose talents had been placed on the altar 
for service. 


CHAPTER XI. 


Graduation 

T WO years had elapsed since the Campbell 
family moved to the city, but their love 
for the country and the old friends had 
not waned. Jean's graduation was rapidly ap- 
proaching. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh were invited to 
spend a few days at “The Pines" and be present 
at the commencement, and Ralph and Marjorie 
Nelson, who were students at the University, were 
also to be guests. 

The day of graduation arrived and it was a 
jolly company indeed that assembled in the din- 
ing room in response to the gong. 

Jean, who was to be valedictorian, was too much 
excited to eat, but to relieve the tension some- 
what she was made the target for the teasing re- 
marks of all present. 

“Jean, you did splendidly," said Mrs. Marsh, as 
she gripped her former pupil by the hand at the 
conclusion of the program. 

“Congratulations! Jean, you are a wonder," 
cried Marjorie, in her most enthusiastic way. 

[ 89 ] 


90 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

“I don’t know what to say, Jean. I wish I 
could do half as well,” was Donald’s remark, 
grasping his sister’s hand. 

“I will say with Shakespeare,” chimed in Mr. 
Marsh — 

‘To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, 

To throw a perfume on the violet, 

To smooth the ice, or add another line 
Unto the rainbow . . . 

Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.’ " 

“Thank you,” said Jean, hastening toward the 
door with a nod and a smile. 

Next morning as she examined her many and 
beautiful presents with her father by her side, 
looking once more at the envelope that contained 
his generous gift, she put her arms around his 
neck and thanked him, little realizing for what 
purpose that gift would be used in the coming 
days. 

“It is yours, Jean, to do with as you please; 
but do not forget the ‘Giver of all’ when dispens- 
ing of your substance,” said Mr. Campbell thought- 
fully, as he turned and left the room. 

Jean was a very appreciative girl and the 
amount of her father’s gift staggered her. What 
would she do with twenty thousand dollars? A 
new thought intruded itself. She had never 
earned or handled money that was really her own. 
Her father had paid all her bills, had given her 
spending money, and had supplied her with offer- 


Graduation 


91 


ings for church and Sunday-school. She had never 
felt any responsibility along that line. What was 
the thought then that was troubling her? What 
brought the color flashing to her cheeks only to 
recede and leave her with breath coming quick 
and fast as she faced a new question and settled 
a new problem? It was this: “My father tithes. 
This is my money. No one else can settle this 
question for me. I want to know my duty along 
this line.” 

Hastening to her room, she immediately locked 
the door. Alone with God she took down her 
Bible and asked in the most business-like way, 
“Now, Lord, show me my duty. Shall I give the 
tenth of this money to Thee?” It was prayer 
and, “Prayer is the touch of an infant on the arm 
of the Almighty.” 

Consulting her Bible, she received the answer, 
“Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the 
first fruits of all thine increase.” 

“That settles it, Lord. You shall have the first 
fruits of this increase, the tenth of the whole. I 
could not give Thee less.” 

That very evening a check for one thousand dol- 
lars was sent to a foreign mission board and the 
remainder was equally divided between Drs. Kerr 
and Marsh for the work in which they were en- 
gaged. No one but the Lord was consulted and 
no one else was told. Neither her father nor Don- 


92 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

aid was at home and, seeing her duty, she dis- 
tributed the money as she was led. 

'‘Say, girls, did you hear what Jean did with 
her money?” asked Marjorie Nelson, as the young 
people assembled in the parlor, in the absence of 
Jean, the following evening. 

“No,” said Beatrice and Esther in one breath, 
“what have you heard?” 

“She gave Dr. Kerr and Dr. Marsh five hundred 
dollars each for their work.” 

“This should be told to Donald,” said the girls, 
running to tell their mother. They were jealous 
of Jean's friendship with Donald and thought this 
a good opportunity to transfer the affections of 
their much admired brother to themselves. 

“Yes, surely Donald should know about it,” an- 
swered Mrs. Campbell, and accordingly he was told 
of the unheard-of episode as soon as he returned. 

They thought they had gained their point, when 
Donald, unusually grave, said: “It does seem 
unwise, but I cannot think of Jean doing anything 
like that without forethought and due considera- 
tion. She must have had a reason. She has ex- 
cellent judgment and I cannot imagine the money 
turning her head or making her do anything that 
is wrong. There must be a reason.” 

This answer was rather disconcerting but they 
advised him to ask her about it. Jean had gone 
out to mail some letters and they heard her voice 
in the hall as she returned. 


Graduation 


93 


“Jean,” said Donald, approaching her with 
hands in his pockets and eyes downcast, “they 
tell me you have been giving liberal contributions 
to churches. I can hardly credit the story but 
they say 'Where there is smoke there is fire/ 
There must be something in it.” 

“There is, Donald,” said Jean, as her face 
flushed crimson and her large tell-tale eyes an- 
swered before she had uttered a word. 

“Don’t you think you could have used it to 
better advantage in another channel?” 

“What channel do you mean, Donald ?” 

“I mean missions. Don’t you think the home 
work can pretty well take care of itself?” 

“Oh, I thought you included the foreign mis- 
sion contribution,” answered Jean relieved. 

“No, I was only told about the two. Is there 
still another one?” 

“Yes, I have just mailed a check for one thou- 
sand dollars to a foreign missionary board.” 

The girls gasped at this piece of information 
and Donald said, “Are these not very large con- 
tributions, Jean ? Is it wise to give so much away 
at one time?” 

She would rather have explained the situation 
to Donald alone, but since he asked her in the 
presence of the others she felt this was a God- 
given opportunity to testify to the leadings of 
the Lord in the matter, so with perfect calmness 
she replied: 


94 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

“I had a fight about this thing and since it was 
my affair and not something for the whole family 
to decide I made it a matter of prayer and set- 
tled it with the Lord. I only gave the tenth 
which, according to the teaching of father, does 
not belong to me. It is true I gave that sum to 
the churches and also a similar sum to a mission 
board under which I hope some day to go as a 
missionary. This, to me, was nothing more or 
less than the plain straight path of God's holy 
will and a little thing after all, considering all He 
has done for me.” 

“But Jean,” said Beatrice, who had no vision 
of obedience or loyalty to God, “people are criti- 
cising you now, and the churches do not seem to 
approve of your action.” 

“True,” said Jean calmly, though her heart was 
torn as she said it, “they did not help settle the 
question with God and may not approve of my 
actions, but it is for His approval I work, and 
nothing can take the place of that.” 

“Well, Jean,” said Donald, “like you I have not 
had money of my own to handle, and therefore 
have not had to face this question. But I can 
see your viewpoint and I believe you are correct 
The Lord has a right to the first of all that be- 
longs to His children, and I congratulate you on 
your prompt act of obedience.” 

Donald's words brought tears to Jean's eyes. 
She turned and walked upstairs, thanking the 


Graduation 


95 


Lord for a brother who was such a true and loyal 
friend and who always seemed to understand. She 
trusted, too, that some day her testimony, so un- 
expectedly given, would bear fruit in the lives 
of those who had criticised her. 

God always takes care of His own, but many 
hours of fighting and struggling and misunder- 
standing lay between that day and the day when 
that same group saw the will of the Master. 


CHAPTER XII. 

The War Cloud 


S J 


\AY, Colvin, we had a wonderful sermon yes- 
terday in our church. ,, 

“You had!” 

“Yes. I wish you could have heard it. One 
of the leading New York ministers preached for 
us.” 


“What did he preach about?” 
“Progress.” 

“Oh!” 


“Yes, and he gave us very definite proof that 
the world is getting better.” 

“Just how did he prove it, Ben?” 

Benjamin Campbell was versed in law but not 
in theology, and his brother put a question mark 
against a sermon that met with his unquestion- 
able approval. 

“He explained the advances we have been mak- 
ing along educational and scientific lines on the 
one side and social and civic reforms on the other 
side.” 


“Did he give you any concrete examples?” 
“Many of them.” 

“Do you remember them?” 

[ 96 ] 


The War Cloud 


97 


“Some. Along social reforms, for example — 
We have not a slave block in the world today.” 

“Except for white slavery, which is doing more 
harm to society than any slavery abolished by 
clean governments.” 

“Bosh, brother! You are far too pessimistic. 
You always see the dark side of things.” 

“Which is commendable if there is a dark side. 
In this case you would like me to believe that the 
black crow is white. I am a doubting Thomas 
about some sermons and some theologians. You 
will have to ‘show me’ before I believe.” 

On Wednesday of that week Colvin Campbell 
paid a visit to his brother, and as he handed the 
morning paper to him said, “What would your 
New York theologian say today about the world 
getting better?” 

“He would probably say that this is the final 
house-cleaning.” 

“Well, I am not a prophet, nor the son of a 
prophet, but I do not hesitate to say that the 
world has been plunged into the worst war in its 
history.” 

“Pessimism again, Colvin.” 

“Common sense.” 

“You would make a competent adjudicator to 
settle their disputes over there.” 

“Mark my words,” continued Mr. Campbell, 
taking no notice of his brother's sarcasm, “it will 
be some time before this dispute is settled.” 


98 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

“Well, don’t worry. We are three thousand 
miles away and won’t be touched by it in 
America.” 

“I hope not, but I can see the war cloud hang- 
ing over the western as well as the eastern hemis- 
phere. America cannot, if she would, dissociate 
herself from the forces of world civilization; she 
cannot guarantee her own security; she cannot 
hope to participate in world intercourse while re- 
jecting world responsibilities and obligations.” 

“If I were a younger man and America entered 
the war I should not wait to be drafted, I assure 
you.” 

With what keen interest Mr. Campbell watched 
developments in Europe! Daily he was found at 
the newspaper bulletins. America was neutral 
and the news, of course, was coming from both 
sides. The Germans were going pell-mell over 
Belgium as if they thought it was a road and not 
a country. From Belgian villages and towns were 
beginning to come those tales of atrocities that 
shocked the world into horrified amazement. 
France and England were keeping very quiet and 
the censor was being severely criticised. 

The days and weeks passed rapidly. The Ger- 
man drive toward Paris had been checked but 
with great losses to the Allies in both men and 
material. They had all fought courageously in 
spite of their lack of preparation, but it was evi- 
dent to every fair-minded man that God and not 


The War Cloud 


99 


a human strategist had turned the tide against 
the Germans. 

“France,” said Mr. Campbell prophetically, as 
he talked with Donald about the war, “is a land 
where the wounds of conflict and cruel devasta- 
tion have left scars that will remind generations 
yet unborn of 1914, when the mighty surge of 
invasion crashed against the ramparts of French 
valor, to be broken and swept back in defeat and 
when France, pleasure-loving France, in the most 
unexpected and noble way, made her body the 
bulwark between democracy and the beast. We 
owe a debt to France, a debt of gratitude as a na- 
tion ; but there is a greater debt that every nation 
owes to France for her indomitable fight for free- 
dom, begun when the Bastile fell and now waged 
on her blood-soaked and desolated soil with a 
firmer purpose and greater determination than it 
was 124 years ago. 

“France only asked for the protection of British 
sea power and military aid of 150,000 troops at 
the beginning. But let us see what England did 
in the way of land forces. She put her standing 
army, only 440,000 strong, into the battle line, 
asked for 100,000 men and got them in two 
weeks; and within two months 1,000,000 had en- 
listed. Then from Canada, Australia, New Zea- 
land, conquered Africa, and dark benighted In- 
dia, the men of heir colonies are flocking volun- 
tarily to her side. 


100 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

“To the American people, removed three thous- 
and miles away from the scene of conflict, the 
amazing episodes of battle have the thrill of nov- 
elty, a mere theme for animated discussion, a sort 
of dramatic spectacle, terrible yet enthralling, but 
to the belligerent nations a grim reality, shadow- 
ing their daily lives, staring them in the face, rob- 
bing them of their sleep and their means of liveli- 
hood. To them this war represents European 
democracies making heroic sacrifices in an un- 
precedented struggle for civilization and liberty. 
The heroism of these victims of aggression, now 
swaying back and forth in a death grapple, has 
sent them leaping, confident and unafraid, into 
the crucible of war for their own testing and 
for the salvation of the world. I wonder how long 
America will keep out of the conflict ?” 


CHAPTER XHI. 


Shouldering the Burden 

W HILE Mr. Campbell placed the legal end 
of his business in the hands of his 
brother’s law firm, he still kept a tight 
grip on the reins, closely watching each transac- 
tion. His failing health, however, gradually com- 
pelled him to relax his hold and give his brother 
more power, a turn of events quite pleasing to 
Benjamin. One would expect such a trust to have 
been held sacred; but with Benjamin Campbell 
it only proved an opportune time to betray it. In 
the presence of his brother he assumed the per- 
emptory attitude of a man of high ideals. Little 
did Colvin suspect that he would descend to the 
arena of speculation. It came as a thunderclap, 
therefore, when he learned that Jacob-like Ben- 
jamin had taken his money, with that of others 
which had been entrusted to him, and with a 
gambler’s prodigality purchased mining stock. 

After a serious attack of illness Colvin quickly 
recovered. Anxious to know about the new min- 
ing and developing business in which Benjamin 
had put his money, and waiving the advice of his 
physician, he journeyed to the mine fields that 
[ 101 ] 


102 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

were supposed to have greatly added to his wealth 
during the war. Little did he realize the mo- 
mentous task he was imposing on himself. As he 
supervised the work, took inventory, and mastered 
every detail he succeeded, with his keen mind and 
unerring judgment, in bringing to a standstill a 
business that, according to new evidence coming 
in daily to confirm his fears, was carrying his 
family to speedy financial ruin. 

The blow was heavy and he staggered under 
the impact. In the city of Clemendale he was at 
the forefront of every movement launched for 
the betterment of humanity; had given a new 
character to public life and had written a new 
charter for the promotion of civic reform and 
social justice. How could he return and face the 
men and women whose interests were involved in 
this enterprise ? It would mean poverty to many 
unless their money could be redeemed. If only 
his health were good he could survive the blow, 
cut down his living expenses, pay back every dol- 
lar and redeem his reputation. With a weak body, 
a burdened heart and an anxious mind, he feared 
to think of the disgrace that awaited his family. 
His humanness and stainless integrity would be 
forgotten in what the people would look upon as 
polite highway robbery, even though he had 
turned over the management of his affairs to his 
brother. 


Shouldering the Burden 103 

Ah! was it not his very integrity that called 
forth such questionings? Was not this the man 
who was famed for sacrificing rather than let 
others suffer and who was always so prompt in 
the payment of his bills? The day would come 
when his name, so stainless, would be vindicated. 
He had been known through the years as a man 
with a consuming passion for truth, a man with 
moral and spiritual vigor, a man with an eager 
mind and dauntless soul whose magnetic person- 
ality had distinguished him among the leaders of 
the welfare work of the city. 

* * * * * 

As the train started across the continent toward 
his home and the scenes of his labors faded from 
his vision, this splendid man, crestfallen, weary 
and aged beyond his years, heaved a sigh of re- 
lief that the revelation had come to him in time 
to settle his affairs. 

One could not help admiring the energy and in- 
dustry of the man as he assumed his heavy task. 
His loyalty to his brother made him very charit- 
able as he turned over in his mind Benjamin's 
avarice and greed. It is always easy to pronounce 
harsh judgment on others, but when the offender 
happens to belong to one's own family one is 
prone to lay stress on possibly extenuating cir- 
cumstances. 

Arriving home unexpectedly he quietly slipped 
into the house and found Jean and Donald study- 


104 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

ing together. They were delighted to see him 
but did not fail to notice his haggard and worn 
appearance. The strain, the trying experiences 
and the long journey had overtaxed his fast wan- 
ing strength and he sank into a chair exhausted. 

He thought failure had been averted but some 
new speculations on the part of his brother forced 
the climax, and the next morning when the bank- 
ers wired just one word, “Ruined,” he succumbed. 
Calling Jean and Donald to his side he confided 
in them the trouble, adding that he felt the end 
was near and they would have to shoulder the 
burden. With a mind like his father, and him- 
self the very soul of honor, Donald asked: “If 
you were to live and shoulder the burden just 
what would you do?” 

“It has always been my desire that the family 
at The Pines , live without ostentation, but with 
every essential of comfort. Now I would sell all, 
live moderately, pay one hundred cents to the dol- 
lar to all creditors if possible. If any deficiency 
I should feel it incumbent on me to take a posi- 
tion and as soon as enough has been accumulated, 
pay every creditor in full.” 

“Is that the Scriptural way?” 

“Donald, the Christianity we know sensitizes 
the conscience and purifies the motives so that, as 
believers, we must brave this thing and do our 
best, trusting the Lord to give us strength to go 


Shouldering the Burden 105 

forward to the day when we shall owe no man 
anything.” 

This splendid young couple realized the serious- 
ness of the stain left on the name of their father, 
and the duty of clearing that name became the 
dynamic that assured the failing father of their 
intention to vindicate his integrity. 

“It is a comfort to know that the deep-seated 
convictions of a Puritan race have taken root in 
your hearts and that although young you prefer 
to go shabbily dressed rather than be in debt.” 

“Rely on me,” said Donald confidently, strok- 
ing the head that had turned white with sorrow. 

“And you, Jean?” 

“To the end, father.” 

No one would have doubted Jean’s desire to 
fully co-operate with her brother, as with reso- 
lute purpose but perfect calmness she faced the 
future. 

“Be loyal to your Lord at all costs and never 
lower the standard. If Ben, who has wronged me, 
should want to dissuade you from your purpose, 
just remember the promise made to me as I passed 
away, happy in the thought that with you in the 
saddle the right thing would be done.” 

They could not see the future nor realize the 
enormity of the task that lay before them, but it 
was worthy of their highest endeavors. True, it 
involved dangers which w'erb arresting. But it 


106 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

also offered beneficent possibilities which were 
boundless. 

The blow did prove too much for Mr. Campbell. 
Next morning when Donald entered the room he 
found the spirit had taken its departure. Calling 
Jean before telling anyone else, they knelt to- 
gether at their father’s bedside and asked the 
Lord to help them carry out his desires. 

Even among those of better understanding in 
the ways of truth and righteousness there is not 
often found such sound judgment, calm discre- 
tion, refined delicacy, combined with affection for, 
and intense desire to do the will of the departed, 
as was found in the case of these young people. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

Vindicated 

I N the presence of death, Mrs. Campbell, act- 
uated by her great love for her husband, con- 
sented to his dying request that his affairs be 
settled in the most honorable way, but as people 
talked and advised she began to swerve from her 
purpose. It was soon noticed that the tide had 
turned and that she was irresistibly being swept 
from her moorings. Ever the servant of public 
opinion, she had practically made up her mind to 
oppose the course of action undertaken by Jean 
and Donald in carrying out their father’s plans. 

Jean’s money was invested and the interest had 
been allowed to accumulate. That she could help 
in a tangible way to lighten the burden she knew, 
but so far no suggestion had come from either 
Donald or the other members of the family. So, 
assuming the responsibility of deciding the ques- 
tion herself, she sallied forth for a walk in order 
to be alone and to think. It was a glorious day, 
the sun shone with surpassing brilliancy from a 
cloudless sky, and the fresh breeze had all the soft- 
ness of spring. Under the blue canopy of heaven 
was a good place to solve thfc problem and formu- 
[ 107 ] 


108 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

late her plans. As she returned her decision was 
made. There was but one honorable course to 
take. Her family certainly had first claim on her 
resources, but her father's name must also be 
cleared. 

Anxious that the Lord should lead her she 
entered her room, dropped on her knees, and 
prayed, “0 God, thou hast guided me so far, please 
guide me now in this important matter, for Thy 
glory. The money is Thine, Lord; Thou hast 
loaned it to me for probably such a time as this. 
I place it on Thine altar now. Give me wisdom in 
disbursing it among my father's creditors and in 
the education of the family, for Jesus' sake, 
Amen.'' Then, opening her Bible, she read the 
fourth chapter of Philippians. The entire chapter 
was such a blessing to her that she hastened out 
in search of Donald in order to confide to him her 
decision. 

“Donald,” she said, as she met him, “I have 
settled the question of the part I must take in 
meeting our liabilities. My motto in the transac- 
tion is a verse given me years ago by our dear 
father, 

“Victorious faith the promise sees 
And looks to God alone, 

Laughs at impossibilities 
And says, ‘It shall be done.’ ” 

and my text when facing criticism for what people 
may call ‘my folly’ is, ‘My God shall supply all 


Vindicated 


109 


your need according to his riches in glory by 
Christ Jesus/ ” 

No definite step was taken until after the 
funeral and then Donald, having suddenly sprung 
from boyhood to manhood, from care-free youth 
to the burdened head of his father's household, 
put the business into the hands of a lawyer chosen 
by Dr. Kerr, to whom he confided the story. 

After many days of tense excitement and ill-con- 
cealed conflict, one question before the family was 
settled, — the disposition of the home and furni- 
ture with other property in the city of Clemendale. 
The sale was a success and a smaller house into 
which they immediately moved was rented for the 
family. The news spread over the city so that 
many and exaggerated were the stories circulated 
about the family and especially about the one who 
had gone. In the midst of all this, in a most quiet 
and dignified way, Donald went about the work of 
liquidating the debts, and the steadily increasing 
pile of discharged accounts gave him a feeling of 
intense satisfaction. 

Many and hard were the obstacles to be over- 
come; handicaps were numerous, but his heart 
went out to God in thanksgiving for his own 
spiritual awakening first of all, then for the noble 
ideals inculcated by the one who had been taken 
away when he needed him most. For the time, 
the pressing weight of bereavement seemed to 
stifle the sense of mercies received. Though there 


110 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

was an empty chair and aching hearts, the remem- 
brance of his godly life and character rested as a 
benediction on the home. 

Yes, he who was dead still lived — for his family, 
though they did not realize it ; his church, though 
the members did not understand it ; his creditors, 
though their demands had not yet been fully met — 
all were to have, in the coming days, purer ideals 
of service in its most practical form. 

All the debts were finally paid, though at tre- 
mendous cost. The family, except for part of 
Jean's money, and a small income Mrs. Campbell 
had inherited, was left almost penniless. 

There will always be people in the world who 
delight to air their views and give their opinions. 
It was one of these poorly informed young men 
who met Donald on the street one day and who 
asked him in a most quizzical manner, 

“What are you going to do when you finish 
high-school?" 

“I expect to go to college and prepare for the 
pastorate." 

With a knowing look and cynical laugh the 
young man asked: “Would it not be better to 
take a more lucrative position and pay your 
father's debts?” 

“That might have been the case some time 
ago, but it is not necessary now." 



The boy apologized for his impertinence and said, “You 
can count on my friendship in future." 





Vindicated 


113 


“Oh, then you think because your father is 
dead you are free from the dishonor of bank- 
ruptcy?” 

“Not at all ” 

“Then why don’t you do the honorable thing?” 
Smiling and calm under the rebuke, Donald 
said, “Will you go in here with me for a few 
moments ?” 

“Yes, I am not in a hurry.” 

They entered the office of the lawyer who had 
taken hold of the tangled mess when Donald had 
assumed the responsibility of clearing the debts. 
Many were the trips made to that office in the 
past few weeks. Every shelf almost was familiar 
to him; from a file he took down a sheaf of 
receipts and handed them to his companion. 

“What are these?” asked the young man. 

“These,” said Donald triumphantly, “are the 
receipts of my father’s debts settled, not at a 
price fixed by the court, but according to his 
dying request, one hundred cents to the dollar. 
You can look them over, and if you know of any 
that have not been paid in full, let me know. I 
will gladly take your advice and stay out of college 
another year in order to meet the demands of 
honor.” 

With an expression w r hich was a mixture of 
chagrin and admiration, the boy reached out his 
hand, apologized for his impertinence and said: 
“You Can Count on my friendship in future.” 


114 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

True to his word he published broadcast the 
fame of his classmate, with the result that 
Donald, who had been ostracized from society 
since his father's bankruptcy, was swamped with 
invitations and received with open arms every- 
where. How true are the words of the old Book, 
“Them that honor me I will honor.” 


CHAPTER XV. 


A Memorable Night 

ATCHING the progress of the European 



conflict the optimistic said, “It cannot 


" ’ last more than a few months,” but 1914 
became history and the last milestone of 1915 
found the world still in the throes of war. Then 
it was prophesied to end in 1916, but Christmas 
of that year, with its beautiful carols and sweet 
memories of the Christ child, dawned and still no 
peace on earth. The new year ushered in the 
coldest weather recorded for many years and, as 
if to add to the misery of those already suffering, 
an unprecedented coal shortage was announced, a 
shortage that affected every city and town in the 
Union. Economy was being practised on every 
hand, short rations, — meatless days and wheat- 
less days were the vogue, — and the people of 
America, in a most patriotic way, responded to 
every ruling of the Government. 

The Campbells felt the pinch of war probably 
more than most families in Clemendale. Being 
accustomed to plenty, there was a pathos about 
keeping up appearances which, had her husband 
been living, would have been considered unneces- 


[ 115 ] 


116 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

sary. This false pride of Mrs. Campbell's made 
matters more difficult for both Jean and Donald, 
who had shouldered the responsibilities of the 
home. Since their father's death they had dis- 
cussed and planned many ways and means of 
saving their mother the ignominy of her present 
circumstances, ignominy that in the retrospec- 
tive she felt keenly. 

Financial circumstances compelled Donald to 
seek some source of income in order to continue 
his education. He was fortunate in being elected 
assistant physical director at the University of 
Clemendale, where he was completing his junior 
year and eagerly looking forward to his gradua- 
tion. 

The fifth of April, 1917, found Donald and Jean 
in a private conference discussing their future 
plans, but not without a feeling of anxiety as to 
what that future held in store for them. 

Jean, who was graduated at the University and 
now teaching in one of the high-schools in Clem- 
endale, said, “The corners of our neutrality 
have surely been chopped off, and I think we are 
ready to answer the call of humanity with a 
hearty national response.” 

With a look of anxiety that betokened his de- 
cision when the inevitable came, Donald answered 
gravely, “I am ready to go ! but, Jean, there have 
been two of us to stand firmly for our principles, 
as we have had to do since father was taken from 


A Memorable Night 117 

us, and I dread leaving you to face these trials 
alone.” 

“ I will still have the same source from which 
to draw my strength,” answered Jean, bravely 
trying to smile. 

“I am aware of that fact, but I have a premoni- 
tion that things will go hard with you in my 
absence.” 

“What makes you anticipate trouble, Donald?” 
inquired Jean, anxious to have her brother's can- 
did opinion. 

“My observation of the fundamental and 
temperamental characteristics of the other mem- 
bers of our family.” 

“In what way do you think they may give me 
trouble?” 

“It may seem egotistical for me to say this, but, 
as a matter of fact, when I am here to back you 
up in your decisions, mother is always willing 
to yield to your judgment, but when I go, I fear 
the girls, being in the majority and cognizant of 
mother's vacillating character, will sway her in 
their favor. It is very evident they do not always 
approve of your views in matters pertaining to 
the family and the majority counts with mother, 
for you know she is ruled by her feelings rather 
than by her judgment.” 

“Do you think mother will go against her best 
judgment if the girls try to influence her?” 


118 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

‘That is just mother’s trouble. She has not the 
sense of justice that was so characteristic of 
father. For instance, you have spent and are 
spending your money to the last cent to help the 
family. It is almost all gone now. Beatrice will 
be the first who could step in and help you, but 
if she were a man I would call her a ‘tight wad’ 
and from her I would not expect any assistance 
whatever. Then Esther, while she, at the present 
time is taking everything you can give her, will, 
if I can read character aright, drop you when you 
have nothing more to give, pull the wool over 
mother’s eyes (excuse the slang) and make it 
very unpleasant for you at times.” 

“Well, Donald, that is just what I have felt in- 
tuitively though I have chided myself for being 
so uncharitable. I do wish mother was as level- 
headed as father. He was the balance wheel in 
our family affairs.” 

“One thing I want you to remember,” said 
Donald, with a ring of determination in his voice, 
“no matter where I am I will trust your judgment 
absolutely and will remain a true and loyal 
brother always.” 

“I appreciate that, Donald, though I could never 
dream of you being anything but true and loyal. 
I trust you will have no cause for regret that you 
placed such confidence in me.” 


A Memorable Night 


119 


“I know I never shall, Jean,” and he kissed her 
affectionately as he went out to learn the latest 
news from Washington. 

The eyes of the entire country were turned 
toward the hub of the nation. For two whole 
years America tried to maintain the spirit of 
neutrality but found it no easy task. 

Very anxiously had Jean watched the European 
countries as one after another entered the con- 
flict. She well knew that if America came in, 
both Ralph Nelson and Donald would be among 
the first to volunteer, and just what the outcome 
would be where Ralph was concerned she did not 
know. 

The ardent desire of Mr. Nelson’s heart was 
that Ralph be a minister of the Gospel, one who 
would fearlessly proclaim the unsearchable riches 
of Christ, and with this end in view he eagerly 
watched for his conversion to God. That memor- 
able day brought joy and thanksgiving unbounded 
to Mr. Nelson, who immediately planned, not only 
for a college training for his son, but for a theolog- 
ical training as well. One year, however, was 
sufficient to settle Ralph on the question of the- 
ology, for during that year he capitulated to the 
teaching of destructive critics and frankly ad- 
mitted to his father that he had lost faith in the 
Bible as the Word of God, a fact that nearly broke 
his father’s heart, and, of course, necessitated a 
change in his course of study. Very carefully, 


120 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

indeed, he chose the medical profession and pro- 
ceeded with the preparation for his life work, 
aware of the fact that his father would not tolerate 
another change — thus the reason for finding him 
now graduated from a medical school and an intern 
in the largest hospital in Clemendale. 

He was a frequent visitor at the Campbell home 
and the intimate friends of the family understood 
that some day he and Jean would be married, 
though these young people offered no reason for 
the fact that they were not even engaged. Donald, 
however, who was Jean's confidant, knew that her 
’reason for continuing the friendship was that she 
might win him back to his early faith. Besides, 
Donald knew that Jean's heart was in the work of 
God in the mission field and her strength of char- 
acter would not permit her to marry a man, even 
with the clean cut life of Ralph Nelson, who did 
not believe in God, in Jesus Christ as the Son of 
God and in the Bible as the Word of God. At the 
same time, he did not close his eyes to the fact 
that Ralph was sincere in his admiration and love 
for Jean, and because of this he believed she had 
the power that could eventually bring him from 
skepticism and unbelief to a full surrender of his 
life to the service of Jesus Christ. 

“I do not believe in prayer,” was his frank con- 
fession, as he talked with Jean during what he 
believed to be his final visit before going to war. 


A Memorable Night 


121 


“I do, Ralph,” answered Jean, “I have proved 
many times that ‘Prayer changes things/ ” 

“Well, that is your opinion, Jean, but I fail to 
see how dropping on your knees, closing your eyes, 
and repeating your desires, can possibly change 
anything. You are not speaking to anyone outside 
of yourself. You merely tell yourself what you 
wish should come to pass and if the thing works 
out as you desire, imagine your prayers are an- 
swered; while the fact of the matter is, it would 
have happened that way if you had never prayed.” 

“No, no, Ralph. God hears and He answers 
prayer, and I know that some day He will answer 
prayer for you.” 

The conversation that followed was known only 
to those two people. Ralph, believing that Amer- 
ica would soon enter the war, admired the girl 
who employed no lying subterfuges, but who, in 
the most honest and straightforward way, stood 
out for her convictions even though it broke her 
heart to hold out against one whom she loved. 

“Hello, old boy,” said Donald, trying to appear 
unconcerned as he came in just as Ralph was about 
to leave, “haven't you two settled things yet ?” 

“Not, yet, Donald,” answered Ralph, with a note 
of sadness in his tone, “this sister of yours will 
not have me.” 

“Well, Ralph, she may have her reasons for 
keeping you waiting, but I'll tell you something 
(and I do not say this because she is my sister) : 


122 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

If you succeed in winning Jean, you will have a 
treasure.” 

“I am aware of that fact, Donald, but we can- 
not agree on theology and prayer.” 

“I am sorry for that, for as things look tonight 
I fear we will both need Jean's prayers before very 
long.” 

How true that statement was they learned in the 
weeks and months that followed, and when these 
three met again it was to be agreed in both heart 
and mind that : 

“ ‘God answers prayer, O soul, believe it; 

God answers prayer, I’ve proved Him true. 

God answers prayer, now venture on Him; 

He answered me, He’ll answer you.” 

Skulking in a tent was not American, nor was it 
a Nelson or Campbell habit. Therefore the very 
next morning after war was declared both Ralph 
and Donald offered themselves as volunteers. 
They needed no sending ; freely, eagerly, enthusi- 
astically they went to the danger line from which 
there was no holding them back. They were ready 
to sacrifice themselves, if need be, for humanity. 
Both did splendid work and were highly com- 
mended, not only for their brave and valiant ser- 
vice, but also for their noble characters and clean 
lives — Donald, especially, for his fearless stand 
for his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The very 
first night in camp with the men settled the ques- 
tion of his Christianity. He noticed that one young 


A Memorable Night 


123 


fellow received very rough treatment because he 
knelt to pray. Scanning the faces round about, 
his voice filled with courage and determination, he, 
who had been so affable and genial in the few short 
hours he had been with the boys, and who had 
fairly captivated them, asked in no uncertain 
sound : 

“Are you in the habit of treating Christians that 
way?” 

“Sure,” came the answer from a chorus of voices, 
“we don't want any canting hypocrites in this 
gang.” 

“Pretty strong language, boys.” By this time 
his coat was thrown aside; baring his arm he 
showed his muscle with perfect calmness and con- 
tinued, “For three years I have been the as- 
sistant physical director at Clemendale Univer- 
sity. You boys who come from colleges know just 
what that position has meant to me in the way of 
brawn and muscle. Now I want you to understand 
that I am a Christian; by that, I mean, I am a 
believer in Jesus Christ. He has been my Saviour 
for years and I am seeking to live for Him. I also 
want you to know that I am willing to use my 
muscle to defend the cause of Christ. If you want 
what I can give you in the way of a fight you will 
try to prevent this canting hypocrite (if you wish 
to put me in that class) from both reading his 
Bible and praying tonight and every night I'm 
with you.” 


124 Donald Campbell’ s Loyalty 

Donald's words came like a thunderclap on a 
clear day. The men were amazed that anyone 
would have the courage to talk to them about a 
matter of this kind in such a calm and composed 
way and to really mean what he said. The only 
answer they seemed to be able to give was a loud 
laugh until their spokesman broke in with — 

“Go on, Budd,” shaking him by the hand, 
“you're all right. We have all kinds of admiration 
for a man who is willing to fight for his religion 
as well as for his country.'' 

Roars of laughter and loud cheers followed this 
remark. Donald's “muscular Christianity,'' as 
they delighted in calling it, won the admiration of 
the boys and gave him many splendid opportuni- 
ties for personal work in the days and months 
that followed. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

A Discarded Friend 

ORK is the panacea for loneliness. It 



touches the keys of an endless activity, 


opens the infinite, and stands awe- 


struck before the immensity of what there is to 
do,” thought Jean, as, with a prayer for help, she 
faced the future and shouldered the responsibili- 
ties transferred to her when Donald entered the 
army. That the task before her was heavy and 
involved both work and responsibility she was soon 
to learn. There were only three in the family now ; 
Beatrice, who had inherited her mother's musical 
talents, had graduated at the Conservatory of 
Music and was teaching in a town one hundred 
miles from Clifton, where Dr. and Mrs. Marsh 
were located. 

Mrs. Campbell was an ideal housekeeper. She 
was capable of planning the finest meals and 
serving the most appetizing dishes in the dainti- 
est fashion, if she had plenty of money to work on ; 
but with a money shortage and war time measures 
she decided that Jean should plan the menus, do 
the purchasing, pay the bills and run the house in 
the most economical manner in keeping with the 


[ 125 ] 


126 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

latest government rulings, while she, with the 
help of a maid who had been in the family ever 
since Mrs. Campbell was a girl, would attend to the 
housework. 

This was good practice for Jean and, like every- 
thing else she put her hand to, she did it with all 
her might. Most conscientious in the discharge 
of her duties, she was developing into an expert 
in home management, but there was something 
lacking — she did not have the co-operation of her 
mother and sister nor did they endeavor to lighten 
matters for her. This was no mirage of her imagi- 
nation, she knew only too well, and was convinced 
that the only way to solve the problem was to get 
back to the source of the trouble if possible. Don- 
ald's warning, however, made her feel that she was 
treading on dangerous ground and that those con- 
cerned would have to be handled with care. By 
no stretch of the imagination could she discover 
the rise of the stream that had now become a 
foaming torrent of discontent and unhappiness. 
Esther showed, openly, avowed dissatisfaction 
with everything that Jean did, with every plan she 
made, and ignoring her, made a confidant of 
Marjorie Nelson, who was teaching in Clemendale 
and became a frequent visitor at the Campbell 
home. Whispered conversations that were indica- 
tive of trouble were frequently brought to an end 
when Jean appeared, and many were her embar- 
rassing moments when people who were complete 


A Discarded Friend 


127 


strangers confronted her with questions relative 
to her family. She always managed, however, to 
conceal her wounded feelings from the public eye, 
and only upon reaching her room did she find re- 
lief in tears. Then, as if to add to the burden, 
there was a growing coolness between herself and 
her mother, which she could not account for, 
making her work doubly hard. How easy it is 
to work with people who are in perfect sympathy 
with one's endeavors and how much more can be 
accomplished when one's labors are appreciated! 

With the ever increasing cost of living, 
Esther's bills to be paid at the University, her 
wardrobe to be replenished, and other incidentals 
to be met, Jean found frugality compulsory, so 
she denied herself many comforts, made sacrifices 
and used all the ingenuity she possessed to make 
over her own clothes in order to give Esther every- 
thing she needed. 

These things, combined with her teaching and 
the added burden of looking after the household, 
proved too great a strain on nerves already over- 
taxed and culminated in her resignation from 
high-school on the advice of a specialist. In 
breaking the news of the doctor's decision to her 
family, she was surprised to find that it was 
treated with calm, unconcerned indifference. She 
was not immune from sensitiveness, though in 
all the disciplining that had come to her she was 
ever passive and obedient. She realized that even 


128 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

now while suffering from both mental and physi- 
cal strain, she was capable of making even greater 
sacrifices, for she had placed herself, her best self, 
on the altar of entire consecration. But her disap- 
pointments were not over, for when she wrote to 
Beatrice and confided her troubles she expected 
at least a letter of sympathy, but instead re- 
ceived a note in which Beatrice, easy-going, in- 
different Beatrice, replied without taking any 
notice whatever of her illness. Then, as if to 
add the last and most trying blow of all, her 
mother and Esther accompanied her to the depot 
and deliberately said goodbye without any ref- 
erence to her return. She was accustomed to 
self-analysis and introspection and, as the train 
pulled out, began to wonder what could be done to 
remedy this strange feeling of isolation, this es- 
trangement from her family, this lack of real 
understanding between herself and her mother. 
But, alas! she was yet to experience greater 
troubles and face more marked misunderstand- 
ings, while those responsible for the friction were 
to pursue their courses blissfully unconscious of 
the pain they had inflicted. 

Good Mrs. Marsh, to whose home Jean went for 
the needed rest and change, took her into her 
hea' J - as well as her home and became to her just 
what she needed, a real mother. The doctors 
said she was to have absolute rest and freedom 
from worry. Knowing this, Mrs. Marsh, ever wise 



“She tells me you are a hypochondriac, whatever that 
means, and that they were glad you left Clemendale. 


A Discarded Friend 


131 


and tactful, guarded carefully the letters she re- 
ceived from Clemendale, the contents of which 
would have broken Jean's heart had she known 
the barrier that had arisen between herself and 
her family, a barrier that no ordinary handling 
could ever remove. 

“She is a noble character," Mrs. Marsh re- 
marked to her husband one day, as Jean went out 
for her daily walk. “I cannot believe the things I 
am told about her. Neither her sisters nor 
Marjorie Nelson have made any profession of 
conversion to God and they are blaming her from 
a worldly point of view, but offer no praise for the 
noble work done by Donald and her at the time of 
their father's death. ‘The well poised mind dis- 
tributes with impartiality the praise as well as 
the blame,' and when they offer credit for the 
noble sacrifices made I shall lend an ear when 
they come with blame." 

By September, Jean's unruly nerves had ceased 
to give her trouble. She had recuperated so 
quickly that she decided to return to teaching, 
hence wrote her mother about a school in Clemen- 
dale. A very polite letter came from Mrs. Camp- 
bell telling her that inasmuch as Beatrice and 
Esther had recently inherited a legacy left them 
by a grand aunt, they would not require her help 
financially so it might be better for her to remain 
in Clifton. Mrs. Marsh noticed that as each letter 
of this kind came, Jean went to her room td w v ddp, 


132 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

and her heart went out to the one who was 
robbed of a mother's love and care through the 
selfishness of those who courted favor at the price 
of friendship. 

“Poor Jean is having another weep,” said Mrs. 
Marsh, while pouring out the coffee for her hus- 
band. “We may as well go on without her. She 
will not eat anything more tonight, I know. I am 
glad she does not know everything. If she did 
there would be no teaching for her this year.” 

Mrs. Marsh was right, but Jean was soon to 
learn the details with which her Clifton friends 
were cognizant and more, in a very rude way. 

There was a vacancy in a school at Upton, fifty 
miles from Clifton, and through an uncle of the 
Nelson's Jean secured the position and was to 
have a room at the Nelson home. 

Three weeks after her arrival Katherine Nel- 
son, Marjorie's cousin, arrived from Clemendale. 
Jean had never met her, but had seen her photo- 
graph and knew that she was a spoiled child. 
Entering the house one cold afternoon, she noticed 
a log fire in the grate, and welcoming its friendly 
blaze, drew near as though to caress it and ex- 
press her pleasure, when Katherine walked in 
unannounced. She viewed Jean from head to foot 
and then, with an air of utter indifference to 
Jean's feelings, proceeded to talk. Talking was 
surely her forte. 

“So this is Jean Campbell,” she began, without 


A Discarded Friend 


133 


introducing herself. “Fve heard your sister talk 
about you. She tells me you are a hypochondriac, 
whatever that means, and that they were glad 
when you left Clemendale. Marjorie says you 
have hysteria, but you seem quite normal to me. 
Indeed, Mrs. Marsh tells me (and I have every 
confidence in Mrs. Marsh) their diagnosis is in- 
correct. Well, I suppose I should not tell you all 
this, but I guess it won't hurt, and just for a little 
diversion I will give you a bit of news that will 
cheer you up. Marjorie Nelson is to be married 
soon to young Dr. Brown, who graduated in her 
class at the University. He is in the Army now, 
but they are to be married before he goes to 
France. Perhaps I should not have told this; I 
understand the girls are not over anxious to 
make a confidant of you, but since everybody else 
knows, you might as well.” 

“Oh, ho, there's the postman!” she exclaimed 
as the door bell rang, and scampered off to take 
possession of the mail. 

“Here's a letter for you and one for me. Both 
are from your mother — I recognize her handwrit- 
ing. Now I wonder what she has to say.” 

Jean opened hers and read quietly a nice letter 
with no news about the family and no mention of 
what they were doing. Katherine finished hers 
and, smiling satisfactorily, handed it to Jean, say- 
ing, “You may read this while I go and see about 
the supper.” 


134 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

Jean thanked her and, with a sigh, took the mis- 
sive and read an enthusiastic account of the good 
times the young people were having and of the 
great preparations that were being made for 
Marjorie’s wedding. 

As Jean read the letter and compared it with 
the one she had just received, she needed no more 
confirmation of the facts Katherine had placed 
before her in such a thoughtless way. That her 
sisters had ostracized her was true, but that her 
mother should also turn against her was beyond 
her comprehension. Dropping on her knees, she 
burst into tears, and with a cry to God for help, 
took up the new burden that had been so cruelly 
thrust upon her. 

“I don’t want any supper tonight,” she an- 
nounced, as she passed the dining room on her 
way to her room. 

“Oh! you must have something,” said Kather- 
ine, coming towards her. “Perhaps I should not 
have told that little piece of gossip, but I did not 
mean to hurt your feelings. You see I was so 
familiar with the sentiments of your family con- 
cerning you that it was quite natural for me to 
tell those things. Your people do not approve of 
the way you handled your money and your father’s 
debts. Your cousin, Eloise, thinks you were very 
foolish, indeed, and Marjorie is offended at the 
way you treated Ralph. She heard him tell Don- 
ald you would not have him, but I must confess,” 


A Discarded Friend 


135 


she said good naturedly, “that I admire a girl who 
will sacrifice money, friendships, and even health 
for her convictions.” 

If she thought that her last remark was a balm 
for the wounds her words inflicted she was mis- 
taken, for Jean went to her room broken hearted. 
The truth had come to her at last. She had 
learned the opinion of her friends in regard to 
both her health and her religion; she had dis- 
covered her enemies — enemies of the worst kind 
for they were those of her own household. At 
the same time she was deeply grateful to God for 
the friendship of Jesus, and the words, “When 
my father and mother forsake me then the Lord 
will take me up,” were very precious to her as 
she wept in sorrow alone ; and the hymn that had 
merely been poetry before became a reality now: 

“Earthly friends may fail and leave us. 

One day soothe the next day grieve us, 

But this Friend will ne’er deceive us 
Oh, how He loves!” 

How she longed for Donald! If only he were 
here to help her, to advise her. When facing tem- 
poral losses she had been strong, and very bravely 
indeed she had borne bereavement when her dear 
father was taken and now as never before she 

“Sighed for the touch of a vanished hand 

And the sound of a voice that was still.” 

Next morning found her unable to go to school. 
She was prostrated. Her overtaxed nerves had 


136 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

not sufficiently recovered to stand the shock that 
these new revelations brought to her. The doctor 
advised her removal at once to a local sanitarium 
where she would have the care, quietness and at- 
tention that her nerves required in order to effect 
a speedy recovery. This meant money and she 
appealed to Beatrice to advance the specified 
amount, but a curt letter refusing to forward the 
money came in response. This gave her another 
most trying day, and a mental battle ensued, as 
she reviewed her past and thought of the many 
sacrifices she had made for Jesus' sake, a new 
light began to dawn on her troubled soul and re- 
vealed to her something she had not yet given up 
— something she had not surrendered — her fam- 
ily. She had carried their burdens, planned for 
them, advised them, sacrificed for them and now 
received in return the basest of ingratitude. Only 
today the doctor had asked, “Are you carrying a 
burden? Are your people a care?" And as she 
related a little of the responsibility she had 
borne during the past year, he had said very em- 
phatically, “You must let go." Was that not just 
what the Lord was telling her? “Let go, and let 
God." Why try to fix up this intricate and com- 
plicated tangle ? Let God take care of it and prove 
Him that “He doeth all things well.” 

So it came to pass that Jean made another sur- 
render and finished another chapter in her ex- 
perience when she took her family with all the 


A Discarded Friend 


137 


misunderstandings that had marred the peace of 
that once happy home and left them all with God, 
saying, “Lord, in the future it shall be ‘hands off’ 
where my family is concerned. I have tried to be 
consistent to win them ; I have tried to be honest 
and honorable to win them ; I have made sacrifices 
to win them, but all in vain. Now, please. Lord, 
win them Thyself, in Thine own way, and use me 
just as Thou wilt for Thine own glory, and I will 
give Thee the praise, in Jesus' name. Amen.” 

That afternoon Mrs. Marsh, who had come to 
spend a few hours, was a very welcome visitor and 
Jean, feeling like a caged bird, came out into the 
open and unburdened her heart to one who she 
knew would sympathize. 

Mrs. Marsh listened to all Jean had to say, read 
the letter from Beatrice and then, putting her 
arms around her and kissing her as a mother 
would her suffering child, she said: 

“Now, Jean, you must not worry about the 
money to pay your bills. I know you well enough 
to be able to trust you and I shall gladly take the 
responsibility of all your expenses while you are 
here. You can pay back the money when con- 
venient; there will be no hurry, whatever, about 
that — I know I shall receive it some day, but in 
the meantime all you are to think about is that 
you get well.” 


CHAPTER XVII. 


Wounded 

D ONALD’S experiences, both in training in 
America and in active service in France, 
were many and varied. He was a splen- 
did soldier, fearless in the discharge of his duties, 
popular with the men, and untiring in his en- 
deavors to help those who were suffering or in 
need. He had a keen sense of hearing and was 
quick to detect gas shells; but in an unguarded 
moment when a new shell used by the Germans 
for the first time, the sound of which was un- 
familiar to his ear, burst, he inhaled enough of 
the poisonous gas to be compelled to retire behind 
the lines for medical care and attention — care 
that was to extend over more time than either 
he or the doctors anticipated when he was forced 
to leave the firing line. 

Therefore, he was one of the few, not sick, not 
well, soldiers who were placed on board the U. S. 
S. President Lincoln. Donald’s powers of obser- 
vation were very keen and nothing escaped his 
notice. Being partly convalescent, he was per- 
mitted to watch the methods used as the great 
ship, the fourth or fifth largest in thfe world, that 
[ 138 ] 


Wounded 


139 


had just crossed the ocean to France with 5,200 
troops and was on the homeward bound trip, made 
her way through dangers seen and unseen with 
725 souls on board. 

It was their last night in the danger zone, and 
the night before that memorable morning when 
the President Lincoln met her doom. The ship 
was in total darkness. Donald was privileged to 
have a room beside the “sick bay” on the main 
deck some twenty feet above the water line. He 
was restless, and opening his porthole, lay quietly 
meditating. Sunset, moonlight, starlight, with 
the various phenomena of oceans ever changing 
appearance furnished suggestions for an endless 
contemplation and brought a peace that only God 
in His Word could give. Many times during his 
reverie did he think of the Psalmist and the 
language of his song, “They that go down to the 
sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 
these see the works of the Lord and his wonders 
in the deep.” 

Donald could never be accused of cowardice, 
but he could not keep away the thought that some- 
thing was going to happen. Naturally he at- 
tributed his fears to his physical condition and 
tried to quiet his unruly nerves by centering his 
attention on the troubled waters and thinking of 
the words of Holy Writ, “They reel to and fro, 
and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their 
wits’ end,” which was a very fine picture of the 


140 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

waves as they chased each other backwards and 
forwards, like the waves of human beings grap- 
pling in a death struggle in the land Donald had 
just left behind him. 

The sky was black as midnight. It hung over 
the ship like a pall and was rendered the more 
awful by the brilliancy of the waters beneath. 
Donald had read of the phosphorescent appear- 
ance of the sea in darkness, but its grandeur, he 
concluded, was beyond compare as he tried to put 
into words what he felt. Had the night been still, 
the illuminated element would have looked mag- 
nificent; but there was something in this mid- 
night, mid-ocean scene that far surpassed his 
most extravagant thoughts of the sublime. The 
rush, the riot, the fierceness of the unfettered 
waters; the wild, uneven, untamed flashing of 
their wondrous lights; the funereal blackness of 
the overhanging clouds, and the desperate plung- 
ing of the President Lincoln as she tore her way 
throught the agitated waters combined to paint 
a picture on memory's walls that would not soon 
be forgotten. The waves, in a state of excessive 
tumult, were rising higher and higher! Donald 
watched them as they burst into sheets of foam 
and showered the sides of the ship with liquid 
light. Every drop, he thought, seemed to contain 
some luminous animalcule sparkling with vivid 
though delicate lustre. So his thoughts ran until 
he went to sleep, but it was a slebp that was tb 


Wounded 141 

have a very rude awakening. As the torpedo 
struck the doomed ship she seemed to lift out of 
the water, jump and begin to settle down only to 
receive another shock, another explosion aft that 
made the great ship lurch at forty degrees. Don- 
ald was wide-awake by this time, and as the ship's 
guns began firing he realized the truth — the 
President Lincoln was torpedoed and the accom- 
panying ships were being given a chance to escape. 
Donald had been pronounced physically unfit to 
take his place and do his part in the assembling 
and rescuing of those on board. The moments 
seemed like hours to him, and he wondered if this 
would be a case of every man for himself as he 
had heard so often about sailors in a time of 
danger, 

In a very short time he and all the sick folks 
on board were put into life suits and placed in 
life boats. There was no disobedience at any time, 
and as they abandoned the ship the captain could 
be seen with the chaplain, officers, petty officers, 
and gun crew waiting until every man was safe 
in the life boats and on the rafts; and the men 
thus saved felt thankful for those who in doing 
their duty risked their own lives in waiting for 
the safety of their fellow men. At last, in that 
ten-foot swell, Donald saw those in charge in the 
hour of danger jump onto the remaining rafts 
and push away before the great ship took her last 
plunge and disappeared from sight. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


Loyalty 

D ONALD, with the others who were picked 
up after the torpedoing of the ship, had 
been taken back to France and shortly 
afterwards sent to America without further mis- 
hap. He was still wearing the uniform, but was 
pronounced by the doctors physically unfit for 
service, though the Government was using him 
in lecture work all over the country. 

During one of these lecture tours whom should 
he meet but his old friend, Dr. Marsh. How 
pleased they were to see each other! Dr. Marsh 
had written a weekly letter to Donald from the 
time he enlisted, and those letters, full of cheer, 
never failed to bring a blessing. Donald attributed 
much that he was able to accomplish for God to 
the inspiration he received from the messages 
written by this man of God. 

“How long are you going to be here?” inquired 
Dr. Marsh. 

“Five hours; until I get a train for New York.” 
“Let us go to the hotel, have a chat and a good 
dinner,” said Dr. Marsh, with all the anticipation 
of a school boy. 


[ 142 ] 


Loyalty 


143 


‘‘Your proposal sounds mighty good to me,” 
said Donald laughingly, “I’m as hungry as a bear.” 

The meal was enjoyed by both men and the 

stories told by the young soldier for he had 

a keen sense of humor — added spice to the de- 
licious repast as they sat over their plates for two 
full hours. 

“What do you hear from Jean ?” questioned Dr. 
Marsh. 

“Very little,” answered Donald, “except that she 
is in a sanitarium and having trouble with her 
nerves.” Then looking his friend in the face, he 
asked earnestly, “What is the matter? The fact 
that my people refuse to give me any information 
worries me and is indicative of a lack of fair play. 
If you know, doctor, I wish you would tell me.” 

“That is why I tried to see you today, Donald. 
I traveled two hundred miles to catch you before 
leaving this city.” Then, step by step, Dr. Marsh 
traversed with Donald over Jean’s pathway from 
the day America entered the war until the day 
when Mrs. Marsh, broken-hearted, returned from 
the sanitarium. 

Donald listened with open-mouthed wonder and 
as the story came to an end, jumped to his feet 
and with face set and stern, brows knitted, and 
fists clenched, he paced up and down the room, 
oblivious to the people who stared at him in 
amazement. Then, stopping in front of Dr. 
Marsh, he said: 


144 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

“I must go to her, I must go today.” 

“No, Donald, you cannot do that. Your time 
is not your own. You are due at New York and 
will be busy, as you have said, every night for a 
week. In the meantime, Jean is happy and com- 
fortable and is being taken care of. I think your 
first step is to go home. It may be the Lord will 
use you to bring your sisters to Christ, and to 
that end I will pray for you when you are gone.” 

With an effort Donald controlled himself and 
after offering up a silent prayer to God for vic- 
tory, he said thoughtfully: 

“That does seem a more sensible way, doctor, 
and I cannot thank you enough for your kind- 
ness and your good common sense — what would 
you call it?” he asked with a smile — “sanctified 
common sense, I think is the proper term. At 
any rate I appreciate all this and am mighty 
glad for your friendship. It has meant much to 
me during the past year and more, but this adds 
a very strong link to the chain of friendship, a 
link that shall bind us closer together than ever 
before.” 

“Thank you, Donald,” said Dr. Marsh, taking 
his friend by the hand. “Jean and you have the 
art of making friends and of binding them to you 
with cables, but, so far as I am concerned I feel 
that I have only done my duty.” 

The week that followed this interview seemed 
like an age to Donald. He did his work mechani- 


Loyalty 


145 


cally and went to his home with a heavier step 
than usual. Although he received a warm wel- 
come from both mother and sisters (for Beatrice 
had returned to Clemendale), he was not keen 
about reciprocating. 

Earnestly he prayed for guidance and looked 
to God for the grace, tact, and wisdom necessary 
to face the most trying situation it had ever been 
his fortune to meet. Buoyed with the thought of 
the prayers that were going up in his behalf, he 
laid his plans, placed the reins in the hand of God, 
and looked for direct leading in a matter that he 
felt was of importance to the kingdom. 

His opportunity came sooner than he expected. 
It was during the absence of his mother and sis- 
ters that Marjorie Nelson called at the home. 

“Well, Donald, when did you arrive?” she ex- 
claimed in surprise, as he opened the door for 
her. 

“Yesterday,” he answered, ushering her into a 
room that had been set apart for him. 

“Are the girls here?” she inquired, as she no- 
ticed that Donald was alone. 

“No, they are shopping downtown, but you are 
permitted to visit me in my sanctum, if you have 
no objections.” 

“Oh, no, Donald, I have no objections at all, but 
I did want to see the girls.” 

“Well, if you can put up with my company for 
an hour I imaging they will be back by that time.” 


146 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

“ I believe Fll wait,” she answered, removing 
her wraps. 

That it was no chance that brought Marjorie 
to the house on that particular morning Donald 
knew, so with a prayer for help he began his work 
of investigation. He had reliable evidence enough 
to know just where the trouble lay, but each in- 
dividual must be dealt with alone, so he took Mar- 
jorie's casual visit as an answer to prayer and be- 
lieved this was his first case in the awful tangle 
that he knew must be put right before happiness 
could be restored to his home and its family life. 

There was silence for a few moments as though 
neither knew just what to say and then, as if 
Marjorie had planned the interview and was wait- 
ing for the questions to come, Donald said: 

“Marjorie, I understand that Jean and you are 
not very good friends. Is that so?” 

“Yes, that is so,” she answered, wincing under 
Donald's searching gaze. 

“You have not told her of your engagement to 
Dr. Brown?” 

“No.” 

“You have requested my mother and sisters to 
keep the secret from her also?” 

“Well, I thought since I had not told her my- 
self it would be better for them not to mention 
it.” 

“Did you ever think she might hear of it from 
another source ?” 


Loyalty 


147 


“I don't see how she could. I have carefully 
guarded all avenues whereby it might reach her." 

“ 'A bird of the air shall carry the voice and 
that which hath wings shall tell the matter,' " 
quoted Donald. 

‘‘Well, Donald, your sisters felt just as I did 
about it and were perfectly willing, in fact, eager, 
to agree to my request." 

“Marjorie, was there any principle back of your 
request?" asked Donald, with a searching glance. 

“Well, I suppose it was a matter of interfering 
in family affairs," she answered with a shrug of 
the shoulders. 

“Yes, and disloyalty on the part of my folks in 
acceding to your request." 

“I suppose that is so," she answered perturbed, 
“but I felt justified in not making a confidant of 
Jean after the way she treated Ralph." 

“How did she treat Ralph?" 

“Why you know all about it," she answered 
spiritedly. “I was here the night before he and 
you enlisted and heard him tell you plainly that 
Jean had refused to marry him." 

This threw new light on the problem that Don- 
ald was trying to solve, gave him Marjorie's view- 
point and made him a little more charitable than 
he would otherwise have been. 

“That is true, Marjorie," said Donald, “Jean 
did refuse to marry Ralph at the time you men- 
tion, but she was justified in doing so. I love 


148 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

Ralph and have the greatest admiration for his 
noble character, but at the same time I believe, 
and I know Ralph believes also, that Jean was 
right in the stand she took. Ralph's views, the 
views of modern critics, were diametrically op- 
posed to Jean's views. Besides, Jean's clear call 
to the mission field was the deciding factor in the 
case. Of course, Marjorie, you are looking at 
these things through unenlightened eyes. If you 
were a Christian you would take a different 
stand." 

“Do you think I am not a Christian? I am a 
church member." 

“Yes, but your home training ought to be 
enough to convince you that church membership 
is not regeneration." 

“But I do not believe what I was taught at 
home." 

“That fact does not change the truth of the 
Bible," answered Donald, with a smile. 

“You are as stubborn as Jean on that ques- 
tion," answered Marjorie petulantly. 

“I am decided on that question, for which I 
am truly thankful. It was my positiveness that 
helped me win some boys in the army for Christ. 
They liked it, Marjorie, for they were very de- 
cided about where they stood in regard to the 
war. There was no neutral ground taken after 
Uncle Sam threw down the gauntlet. Every man 
knew what side he was on.” 


Loyalty 


149 


The truth as it began to dawn on Marjorie re- 
vealed a heart that had been disloyal to a friend, 
and was at enmity with God. She did not like 
the revelation, and like Naaman of old, went away 
in a rage. 

Dropping on his knees, Donald prayed that God, 
by His Holy Spirit, would deepen the conviction 
and follow up the work done that morning. Then, 
as Mrs. Campbell and the girls returned, he looked 
for fresh opportunities to present themselves so 
that this trying work might be done as expedi- 
tiously as possible, but as the hours passed his 
faith was sorely tried. Beatrice was to give a 
musical at the Conservatory that night and Mrs. 
Campbell, ever a lover of music, was planning to 
attend. All their powers of persuasion could not 
induce Donald to go, so Esther remained with 
him. 

Esther, who was very fond of Donald, was 
pleased for this chance of having him all to her- 
self, but was surprised at the turn of events as 
he continued his work of investigation. 

“Did Marjorie request you not to tell Jean of 
her engagement and forthcoming marriage ?” he 
inquired, as they were left alone. 

“Yes, she was cross at Jean for her treatment 
of Ralph.” 

“And you acceded to her request?” 

“Yes, of course, we respected Marjorie’s wish.” 


150 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

“Have you been making a confidant of Mar- 
jorie lately and leaving Jean out of your life?” 

“Well,” answered Esther, perturbed, “she was 
not interested in me and opposed nearly every- 
thing I did.” 

“Did you ever make the statement that she was 
not the Christian she used to be?” 

“I did say that once,” she said blushing, “when 
I saw her eyes snap because I did not let her have 
her way.” 

“You said, too, that her family could not live 
with her.” 

“Well,” she answered petulantly, “you would 
have said the same thing if you had been here.” 

“Did you say her illness was just pretence or 
camouflage?” he interrogated. 

“I did tell Beatrice that.” 

“Now then let us begin at the beginning. You 
have admitted everything I asked you tonight. 
This obviates the necessity of controversy and 
leaves the balance of the argument with me. You 
permitted an outsider to come into the family and 
rob you of loyalty to your sister. The arguments 
you advance in defence of your conduct are all 
based on suppositions, you cannot substantiate 
them. 

“Take the case of Ralph Nelson, for instance, 
that is nothing but a misunderstanding. I know 
Ralph. I know just how he feels. He admires 
Jean for the stand she took. Yet you, Jean's sis- 


Loyalty 


151 


ter, have helped to rob Jean of her friends in- 
stead of being frank and open. 

“Then take the case of Jean’s family. Her 
father adored her, her brother loves her very 
dearly and I hope her mother does too. In my ab- 
sence, mother, Jean, Beatrice, and you constituted 
the family. When you made that sweeping state- 
ment that her family could not live with her you 
were thinking of yourself, were you not? You 
must have been, for the other members of the 
family did not seem to have any trouble in re- 
gard to living with her. Then, too, if I under- 
stand things aright, at the time you made that 
statement Jean was making sacrifices to help you 
and this is her reward! You ought to remember 
the two good rules given us by Henry Van Dyke, 
‘Never believe anything bad about anybody un- 
less you positively know it is true; never tell 
even that, unless you feel that it is absolutely 
necessary and that God is listening while you tell 
it/ 

“I have no blame for Jean if her eyes snapped 
when you discarded her friendship and made a 
confidant of a stranger. I pity the woman who is 
so namby-pamby that her eyes do not snap on 
special occasions. Now, Esther, you have done 
this in blindness and unbelief, I know, yet ‘The 
mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceed- 
ingly small/ and some day it will all come back 
to you and you shall reap what you have sown. 


152 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

Your disloyalty, your lack of sympathy, your in- 
gratitude will all return with compound interest. 
You have proved the truth taught us by our de- 
parted father, namely, the total depravity of man, 
that salvation is not hereditary but rather some- 
thing we must accept. Now I am going to look 
for you to take the place of a sinner and accept 
Christ as your Saviour. He will make you a 
true and loyal friend of every child of God, sym- 
pathetic with every sufferer, and anxious to fol- 
low the Master wherever He may lead.” 

Donald, who did not want to appear pugnacious, 
but was merely trying to put matters right, 
watched the effect of his words on his incorrigible 
sister and was not surprised that she rebelled, 
and would not speak to him for several days. 

Beatrice, too excited after the evening’s enter- 
tainment to retire soon, noticed the light in the 
den and knocked. 

“Come in,” Donald said, glad for the oppor- 
tunity of dealing with another member of the 
family. 

“I saw your light and thought I should like to 
tell you about our concert,” said Beatrice warmly, 
as she sat down on the edge of the desk. 

“I am glad you came, Beatrice, for I was 
anxious to see you. Are you too tired to talk for 
a little while ?” said Donald with the air of a gen- 
eral who had been laying his plans for battle and 
was working them out one by one. 


Loyalty 153 

“No,” said Beatrice, laughingly, “I'm never too 
tired to talk.” 

“Well, I have a few questions to ask if you can 
give me the time.” 

Throwing off her wraps, she sat down and 
looked at Donald inquiringly and without further 
preliminaries he asked: 

“Did Jean ask you to help her with her hos- 
pital bills?” 

A blush suffused her cheeks as she answered, 
“Yes.” 

“Did you give her the assistance she needed?” 

“No.” 

“Why not?” 

“For a good reason — I would never have seen it 
again. She squandered her own money and 
father's, but she will never have the privilege of 
squandering mine.” 

“Do you really mean to make those accusa- 
tions, Beatrice? Do you really mean that you 
would not trust Jean with money?” 

“Yes, what else could I mean?” 

“I am glad you are honest about this. Please 
remember that so far as father's money is con- 
cerned when you accuse Jean you also accuse me. 
If she is guilty, then I am guilty also. You are the 
only person I know who questions the honesty of 
the girl who with a mind conscious of rectitude, 
was so conscientious with her money that the 
Lord's portion was taken out before she settled 


154 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

what she was going to do with what belonged to 
her, and then used her own money to clear her 
father's name. Her loyalty to God in that affair 
won for her the admiration of all her friends and 
taught me a lesson that brought a rich and abid- 
ing blessing into my life. I could not have even 
imagined it possible that you would thus forsake 
Jean in her hour of need, 

“For friendship, of itself a holy tie, 

Is made more sacred by adversity.” 

I consider you a disloyal friend indeed, in per- 
mitting your sister to be virtually driven from 
home, to suffer among strangers and have those 
same strangers making themselves responsible 
for her bills. Beatrice, you would not have lost 
had you assumed the obligations taken by Mrs. 
March. Her act of kindness brought the blessing 
of peace and quietness to Jean's troubled nerves, 
and has bound her to Jean as one who proved her- 
self to be a friend in need, therefore, a friend in- 
deed. Of course, you are not a Christian and 
your perspective differs from that of mine, but, 
Beatrice, before you ever accept Christ as your 
Saviour, you will have a hard fight to overcome 
your love of money. I fear the devil will gain 
many a victory as the Lord tries to separate you 
occasionally from your cash, but you must put 
first things first and get right with God. Then 
ask Him to make you honest in paying your debts 


Loyalty 


155 


to God. He asks the question, 'Will a man rob 
God?’ Now the biggest battle you will ever face 
will be along the money line, but thank God, Jesus, 
the Captain of our salvation, will be ready to give 
you the victory.” 

Beatrice, if left alone, had a tender heart and 
was susceptible to the truth, so Donald was not 
surprised when she left the room, with a sob, and 
made her way upstairs. 

Mrs. Campbell, who had been in the kitchen 
making plans for breakfast, heard Beatrice cry 
and, coming into the den to ascertain the cause, 
found Donald praying for the three girls who were 
suffering from the wounds inflicted by a friend. 

"What is the matter, Donald?” 

"Everything is wrong, mother.” 

"I fear you are tired. You must rest as much 
as possible.” 

"I cannot, mother, until I finish the work I have 
undertaken.” 

"Is there anything I can do to help you?” 

Placing a seat for his mother on one side of 
the fireplace and adding a fresh log to the fire, he 
said: 

"Yes, there is much you can do, mother. I am 
shocked to learn of the treatment Jean has re- 
ceived at the hands of her family.” 

"Has someone been carrying tales?” 

"Yes, I am thankful to say a very true friend, 
indeed, gave me the information that sent me 


156 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

here to right wrongs, and only the grace of God 
prevents the pent up indignation of my heart from 
finding forcible expression. I wish I could find 
enough adjectives in the superlative degree to ex- 
press my sentiment about the contemptible way 
in which Jean has been treated.” 

“Don't get excited, Donald,” she said, patting 
him on the shoulder, while a troubled expression 
flitted over her handsome face. 

“I am not excited, mother, I am talking facts. 
You acquiesced in a plot and became a party in 
a conspiracy to keep Marjorie's forthcoming mar- 
riage a secret from Jean. You capitulated to 
the ring (if I may be permitted to use a political 
term) in everything.” 

“Yes, but I believed Jean would not mind and 
the girls wanted it that way.” 

“And you wrote a letter to Jean with not a 
word about the wedding and another by the same 
mail to Katherine Nelson telling her all about the 
arrangements.” 

“Who told you all this, Donald?” 

“A more appropriate question, mother, would 
be, Does Jean know all this?” 

A long silence followed, a silence that Donald 
hesitated to break for he wanted his questions to 
sink into his mother's very soul. But when he 
saw tears in her eyes and knew that her heart 
had been touched, he went on, “Jean does know 
all this and more, and the result is her prolonged 


Loyalty 


157 


stay in the sanitarium. Now, mother, I want to 
talk to you very frankly. So long as father lived, 
and you were swayed by him, you did wonderful 
things, but since his death others have influenced 
you and, to please these people, who, without 
thought, principle, or Christianity, have used you 
for their own selfish motives, you see how far you 
have strayed from truth and justice.” 

In the light of the facts that had been placed 
before her Mrs. Campbell reviewed the last few 
years of her life, she saw the error of her ways 
and her mother heart was touched. Rising, with 
a sob, she buried her face on Donald’s shoulder 
and pleaded for forgiveness. 

Donald kissed her affectionately and dried her 
tears, saying, “We must take this in its right 
order, mother, you must go to God first and then 
to Jean.” 

For the first time in the twelve hours in which 
the battle had waged against wrong, Donald saw 
signs of victory. His mother knelt by his side 
and confessed her sin, and before going to sleep 
that night a very comforting message had been 
sent over the wires to Jean — a message that sat- 
isfied a hungry heart. Jean thanked God for a 
brother who had pleaded her cause, and went to 
sleep to dream of the old days at “The Pines” 
when she carried her cares to a loving mother 
and found an ear ever ready to listen to her child- 
ish troubles. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


Newspaper Reports 

HEN Mrs. Campbell and Donald boarded 



an early train next morning for Upton 


v * they left behind them three deeply 
wounded souls — souls laboring under conviction, 
but not yet willing to confess their guilt. 

How eagerly Jean awaited the arrival of her 
guests! Her mother was the first to reach her 
room and, without preliminaries confessed the 
wrong she had done and asked for forgiveness. 
The acute pain that had filled Jean's heart as 
blow after blow came had, during the months of 
suffering when she was separated from her 
family, found no real relief; but as her mother 
embraced and kissed her as she had done years 
ago, the room seemed to float before her vision, 
the fountain of her tears opened, and chasing 
each other down her cheeks, they carried away 
the last vestige of misunderstanding that had 
robbed her of the love and companionship of her 
dearest earthly friend, and mother and daughter 
were reunited in that hour. 

Anxious as he was to see Jean, Donald felt 
that the meeting between mother and daughter 


[ 158 ] 


Newspaper Reports 


159 


should not even be witnessed by him, so he re- 
mained downstairs half an hour before going 
to her room. In answer to his knock a very 
red-eyed, but happy sister affectionately greeted 
him. 

“You dear boy,” she said, as she threw her 
arms around his neck and kissed him, “how will 
I ever repay you for what you have done for 
me?” 

“By sending for your soldier brother when you 
are in trouble next time.” 

“At the rate my troubles have been coming 
lately you would be kept on the road most of the 
time, I fear,” laughed the happy girl. 

“Well, never mind, Jean, they are on the pro- 
gram so long as we are in this mundane sphere.” 

“Yes, I think so and I have come to the con- 
clusion that God's people are specially tried at 
this time.” 

“Part of the program, but there is balm in 
Gilead, thank God.” 

The balm in Gilead had surely come to one 
troubled heart that day, and as the hours sped 
by there was no happier person in the sanitarium 
than Jean Campbell. She laughed and chatted 
with her friends and was her own bright happy 
self once more. 

“Did you eat breakfast on the buffet car this 
morning?” she inquired. 


160 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

“Yes,” answered Mrs. Campbell, “and a queer 
breakfast it was. Imagine soup on a breakfast 
menu !” 

“When I came I said to the waiter, ‘What a 
funny breakfast/ ” 

“Yes’m, yes’m,” he answered, “same menu we 
have had, on this car, for fourteen years. Yes’m, 
for fourteen years. Never any change. No’m, 
no’m, never any change except from grape fruit 
to strawberries and from strawberries to grape 
fruit.” 

Donald roared with laughter, “I'll guarantee 
the menu card looked as if it had been on the 
road for fourteen years.” 

“Oh, Donald, Donald,” laughed his mother, 
“you always try to make things worse than they 
really are.” 

“Well, mother, I believe I could behave better 
if I had something to eat right now. Let us 
go downstairs and sample the dinner that is 
being served.” He led the way to the elevator 
and a very happy group, indeed, sat down to a 
meal such as they had not enjoyed together for 
a long time. 

The time passed all too quickly for Jean, who 
dreaded the moment when she was to say good- 
bye and see her loved ones take their departure; 
but Donald assured her he would be a frequent 
visitor as he passed through on his tours, and he 
kept his word. All roads led to Upton for Donald 


Newspaper Reports 


161 


after that day. Had Jean been his sweetheart 
instead of his sister he could not have been more 
faithful, and each visit showed a marked im- 
provement on Jean’s health, a fact that cheered 
him and made him feel grateful to God for the 
little part he had in affecting the change. “Did 
you notice that Ralph Nelson was wounded in 
France?” he asked one day. 

“Yes, I noticed that.” 

“Have you heard from him recently?” 

“No, Donald, I have not heard from him for 
some time. My letters have all been returned, 
marked ‘Wounded/ ” 

“I am not surprised, though that may not mean 
that Ralph is suffering at all. There were two 
men by that name in the same regiment and it 
could be the other Ralph who was wounded and 
in the hospital. Both were captains but, of 
course, our Ralph was a doctor.” 

Not long afterward Jean saw the announce- 
ment of the marriage of Capt. Ralph Nelson to 
his nurse. This news brought a sting of disap- 
pointment though she clung to his words, “If 
you refuse to marry me, I shall remain a bache- 
lor,” and she had prayed earnestly for the re- 
storation of his faith in the Christ whom she 
delighted to serve. 

Many lecturers visited that sanitarium, and the 
guests enjoyed many intellectual feasts and were 
kept well informed about the war in Europe. 


162 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

Looking over the bulletin board one day, Jean 
was surprised when she read the announcement 
of a lecture on Friday evening by Major Ralph 
Nelson, who had just returned from France. 

“I wonder if that is our Ralph, as Donald calls 
him, and if so, will I meet him, and” — she stopped 
as if glad the people around her could not divine 
her thoughts, “his wife.” 

On Friday night Jean went early to the lecture 
room, and taking a back seat, awaited the arrival 
of the lecturer. At last he came. She recog- 
nized him immediately, for he had not changed 
except that he was stouter and a little older- 
looking. Several people entered when he did and 
Jean noticed that he gave instruction to some 
one and then turned to talk with Dr. Alford, the 
superintendent of the sanitarium. Dr. Alford 
was an earnest Christian, a man whom Jean ad- 
mired for his sterling character and proved capa- 
city for the position he held in that institution. 

As Jean watched Ralph she noticed that he 
used a cane and appeared to be suffering from 
lameness, a fact that confirmed to her mind at 
least one part of the newspaper report. 

He looked exceptionally well in his uniform and 
seemed quite at home on the platform. He told 
of his work in France, of the narrow escapes he 
and others had had, of the splendid work done 
by the American Expeditionary Forces on for- 
eign soil and, to Jean's surprise when recounting 


Newspaper Reports 


163 


the battles fought and the victories won by the 
Allies from the beginning of the war, as well as 
those recorded since America entered the con- 
flict, he added, “It was neither American forces 
nor American supplies that gave victory, nor was 
it Belgian bravery, French valor, nor British 
tenacity that won the battles — it was God\” 

Hearing these words come from the lips of 
one who, but such a short time ago, had denied 
God, Jean said, with a heart that was truly thank- 
ful, “Praise God!” 

Many crowded around the platform to greet the 
speaker at the close of the lecture, but Jean kept 
her seat and was interested in watching. Ralph 
finally left the platform hurriedly, and rushing 
down the aisle disappeared through the doorway 
with a woman leaning on his arm. Another part 
of the newspaper report was confirmed ; it was he 
who had been wounded, he who had married his 
nurse. A song book lay on her lap, and looking 
at it to hide her confusion she read: 

"Father, whate’er of earthly bliss 
Thy sovereign will denies, 

Accepted at Thy throne of grace, 

Let this petition rise; 

Give me a calm, a thankful heart, 

From ev’ry murmur free; 

The blessings of Thy grace impart, 

And make me live for Thee.” 

The book spoke to her; its message just 
suited her present needs. Going to her room 


164 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

she fought another battle and won another vic- 
tory. 

Next afternoon as usual she went for her daily 
walk. The wound was still fresh in her heart, 
though to the guests of the sanitarium she ap- 
peared happy and cheerful. Walking toward the 
river, she thanked God for His daily recurring 
provision for her needs. A timid chirp came 
from the grass and the faint sweet smell of 
autumn floated towards her. The green velvety 
moss on fallen logs, grey rocks, and the lower 
ground where pines stood silent and thick, 
showed the hand of a mighty Creator. As she 
watched the river meandering around the hill- 
side, listened to the humming of the bees and 
the song of the birds and saw the gorgeous 
butterflies flutter about in the sunlit open spaces, 
she realized that her future, which was all un- 
known to her, would be unfolded a day at a time. 
If her heavenly Father did not want her in the 
foreign field He would provide a field of labor in 
the homeland, where she could glorify Him for 
whose cause she had suffered. 

Approaching the river, voices floated towards 
her, and she recognized Dr. Alford's clear re- 
sonant tone as the distinctly enunciated words 
reached her: 

“So you know Miss Campbell. She is the life 
of the sanitarium and has a peculiar fascination 
for the rest of the guests — a fascination I cannot 



“Doubtless you will have much to talk about and 
I shall leave you to your folklore while I 
hurry away to my patients.” 








Newspaper Reports 


167 


explain. She never poses, is perfectly natural and 
sincere and is, I believe, a wonderful Christian. 
At the same time she is so intellectually keen 
she keeps us all alive around the ‘San.' ” 

Jean did not mean to be an eavesdropper and 
would have given anything at that moment for 
an exit whereby she might have escaped un- 
noticed; but as he finished the last word Dr. 
Alford looked up and exclaimed: 

“Why, here she is! I am anxious that you 
should have a chat with her. Doubtless you will 
find much to talk about and I shall leave you to 
your folklore while I hurry away to my patients.” 

Left to themselves Ralph led the way to a seat 
in a sunny nook overlooking the river, and in his 
old-time way said: 

“Jean, I surely have a crow to pluck with you.” 

“You have?” 

“Yes, why did you stop writing to me?” 

“Oh, that is easily explained. My letters were 
returned when you were wounded.” 

“Yes, but why didn't you write again when 
you were able to locate me?” 

“I did not want to be obtrusive, Ralph.” 

“Obtrusive! What do you mean?” 

“Why, your marriage.” 

“My marriage! I don't understand!” 

“I saw the announcement in the paper. It 
got quite a little publicity in America.” 

“Jean,” he said, taking her by the hand. 


168 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

Withdrawing her hand quietly she said, “I saw 
you leave the lecture room last night with your 
wife, and I suppose I should offer my congratula- 
tions.” 

“Jean, I am stunned! How that ever got into 
the papers I do not know, but I’m not married. 
I left the room last night with little Mrs. Smith. 
I was the one who broke the news to her at New 
York that her son was killed. She took it so 
badly I had to send one of our nurses with her. 
They spent the day here yesterday in order to let 
Mrs. Smith hear my lecture, and while the nurse 
was making the necessary preparations for the 
rest of the trip I merely assisted Mrs. Smith 
through the crowd to the taxi that was waiting to 
take her to the depot.” 

Jean was silent and then Ralph laughed boy- 
ishly as he said, “No, no, Jean, I am not married. 
I am free from the law, and more than that 
Jean, I am free from the shackles of infidelity 
that destructive criticism had placed around my 
belief in the Bible.” 

“Praise the Lord!” said Jean, with a smile of 
frank delight on her face. 

“Yes, I discovered that men who believed as I 
did had nothing to offer dying men as they were 
ushered into eternity. That led me to another 
discovery, — that I had to unlearn human doc- 
trines and come as a little child back to the old 
nursery faith. Then and only then had I any- 


Newspaper Reports 


169 


thing worth while to offer the men whom I met 
by the hundreds at the gates of death. I tell 
you, Jean, I have passed through a wonderful 
experience and firmly believe ‘the faith once for 
all delivered to the saints/ My dear old dad can 
hardly contain himself, he is so happy ; ten years 
have been added to his life.” 

With misunderstandings cleared away, it was 
a very happy young couple that returned rather 
late for dinner. A new plan had been formulated 
by them that day — a plan that was recorded in 
heaven and would have a large place in extend- 
ing the kingdom of God on earth. 


CHAPTER XX. 


Surprises 

D ONALD could never be called a long-faced 
Christian, for he was “full of tricks” and 
enjoyed immensely good wholesome fun. 
When he next visited the sanitarium, he found 
Jean very happy; and, as she confided the cause 
of her happiness to the one whom she deemed 
worthy of her confidence, he thanked God. Turn- 
ing the matter over in his mind, he saw in Jean's 
news a chance to precipitate something that 
would, at least, make his people think, for he 
realized that it takes more than ordinary dealing 
to bring some people to Christ, in days of in- 
difference to His claims. 

“Can you keep a secret?” he asked, with a 
roguish twinkle in his eye. 

“I think so,” answered Jean, smiling. 

“Then I shall bind you to secrecy in regard to 
your forthcoming marriage. Of course, you will 
tell Dr. and Mrs. Marsh, but apart from them 
the whole affair is to be a war secret. I shall 
be the general, shall make the plans and take 
the entire responsibility and blame, while Ralph 
and you, as good soldiers, will simply obey.” 

[1701 


Surprises 


171 


“Now, then, my plan is to shock the girls into 
an acknowledgment of their sin. It took an 
earthquake to bring the Philippian jailer to the 
Saviour, and I hope when my plan transpires that 
we will have similar results — a whole family won 
for Christ.” 

In the meantime, Ralph Nelson, with a college 
instructor and also a theological professor, all 
of whom had been led, in the goodness of God, 
from destructive criticism to the truth as it is 
in Jesus, had planned to found a new college. 
The curriculum was to cover all the work 
necessary for preparation for the foreign mission 
field and was to include secular as well as Biblical 
training. It was a great undertaking, but being 
cognizant of the need for a school where the stu- 
dent would not lose his faith, while at the same 
time he studied “to show himself approved unto 
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 
rightly dividing the Word of truth,” these men 
trusted the Lord for the wisdom as well as the 
administrative powers necessary to do the work 
for the glory of God. 

Jean, too, whose faith and obedience had been 
tried like that of the patriarch of old, and who 
had been forbidden, by her physicians, to under- 
take work in the foreign field, saw in this new 
venture an avenue of service where she might 
labor for the Master. 


172 Donald Campbell's Loyalty 

At last the day came for Donald’s surprise. 
His only confidant in Clemendale was his mother, 
and together they made their plans and were now 
awaiting the outcome. Marjorie, who had come 
to spend the day at Donald’s request, took the 
girls out for a walk, promising faithfully to re- 
turn at a certain time. Donald went to the depot 
to meet his friends, and as the train came in, 
greeted them warmly, while like a general dis- 
patching his troops, he ushered Dr. Marsh and 
Ralph into a car and handed them a program; 
then, taking Mrs. Marsh and Jean into his car, 
drove home. There Mrs. Campbell, after ex- 
tending a warm welcome, rushed them upstairs 
to make the necessary preparations for the sur- 
prise, little realizing that a greater surprise was 
in store than they had anticipated. Returning 
to the parlor, she sat down at the piano and 
began playing some sweet old melodies as she 
was in the habit of doing. 

The girls coming in from their walk, entered by 
a side door, and not wishing to interrupt, slipped 
into the back parlor and sat down to enjoy the 
music, a fact that pleased Donald and fitted into 
his program as if he had arranged it himself. 
Mrs. Campbell was a gifted musician. There was 
always something about her playing that gripped 
her audience, but today there was a message in 
every chord. The piano itself was responding to 
her touch and answering the call of her heart as 


Surprises 


173 


she sobbed out the joys and sorrows of recent 
months. Then, with a triumphant note she 
struck up a rhapsody she was seldom willing to 
play, but one that always charmed the young 
people. Donald, all unnoticed by the girls, crossed 
the room to his mother's side as her fingers 
danced over the keyboard and whispered some- 
thing; immediately, without an interlude, she 
glided into “Mendelsohn's Wedding March.” 

“She is practicing that for you,” said Esther 
teasingly, as she looked across at Marjorie, but 
before they had time to discuss further Mar- 
jorie's approaching wedding there was a wedding 
party in the next room and Dr. Marsh was 
actually performing the ceremony. Beatrice and 
Esther were non-plussed, while Marjorie, much 
chagrined, turned and said, 

“They are having their revenge.” 

As the ceremony proceeded, another thought 
occurred to them. “What shall we do when the 
ceremony is over? Shall we walk up and offer 
our congratulations as if we were honored and 
invited guests?” 

That problem was soon solved, for something 
transpired that changed even Donald's program, 
brought the necessary conviction to the hearts 
of the girls and gave him the desire of his heart, 
for just as Dr. Marsh was finishing the prayer 
at the close of the ceremony Benjamin Camp- 
bell entered very informally. He looked worn and 


174 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

haggard and there were lines on his face that 
showed signs of great mental strain. 

“Pardon the interruption,” he began, stepping 
into the middle of the room. “I have a confession 
to make to this company. You all know me. My 
only son was killed during the war and my only 
daughter married a young officer who went to 
France, but is now at her home seeking a divorce. 
Everything has been going wrong, and I have had 
myself on the witness stand for cross-examina- 
tion. The result of this self-imposed trial has 
been sleepless nights for weeks, culminating when 
I discovered I was unable to meet my liabilities, 
but that God in His mercy had met them at the 
cross, in my surrender to the claims of Christ.” 

“Praise God !” said Dr. Marsh heartily. 

“Yes,” he continued, taking no notice of the 
interruption, “my trial, conducted largely during 
the night hours, brought some startling revela- 
tions. I saw myself in my true light with an 
abnormal love for money. I found I was a man 
without principle or honor, a man without manli- 
ness or courage, a man with a heart full of selfish- 
ness and greed. I had taken my brother’s money 
and without compunction, invested fabulous sums 
in a business that I knew would never bring the 
returns I promised. I had watched Donald 
bravely meet his father’s obligations and Jean 
take her own money to liquidate the debts. I 
saw Donald go off to war and return with faith 


Surprises 


175 


in God. I saw Jean persecuted for righteous- 
ness sake, and I stood by without offering as- 
sistance. Then came the blow of Tom's death 
and the sorrow of a broken heart in my daugh- 
ter's marriage. These are the things that brought 
me to myself, and like the prodigal of old, back to 
the Father to seek forgiveness, and He did not 
turn me away." 

“Thank God!" said Dr. Marsh, his eyes moist 
with tears. 

“That," continued Benjamin Campbell, “was 
the first step, but I believe salvation does not end 
there. There are other steps to be taken in the 
Christian life and God has revealed to me that 
restitution is the next step on Heaven's pathway 
for me. Jean and Donald shouldered the burden 
bravely and did a noble thing in clearing their 
father's name, and today I want to pay back this 
money, in order to clear my conscience." 

“A noble thing to do,” interrupted Dr. Marsh. 

“I hope so," continued the earnest new convert, 
“and now I ask you, Donald, to accept this check 
for the money you spent after your father's death, 
money that could well have been used for the 
comfort of your home and family, but was kept 
from you by one whose heart God had to shake 
as by an earthquake before He could separate him 
from the almighty dollar. And now," he con- 
tinued, turning to Jean and handing her a check 
also, “this is yours. It contains the amount you 


176 Donald Campbell’s Loyalty 

used of your own money with the interest during 
the time it has been out of your possession.” 

Turning to Dr. Marsh, he continued, “In ad- 
dition to what I have given to these two young 
people, which belongs to them, morally, I want to 
pay my debts to God. I do not know anyone who 
could dispose of that money in a more satisfac- 
tory way than you, sir, so I want you to accept 
this check, with the permission to disburse it as 
you may deem advisable in the work of the Lord. 
I have fought God all my life,” continued Mr. 
Campbell. “I know little about prayer, and it is 
my wish, that you kneel with me here and ask 
God to bless me and keep me in His care.” 

Dr. and Mrs. Marsh, Mrs. Campbell, Ralph, Jean 
and Donald knelt around the penitent man. Surely 
the Holy Spirit was working, for no power on 
earth could have induced Benjamin Campbell to 
bow in humility and publicly confess his mean- 
ness and sinfulness as he was now doing. To this 
group it was one of the finest manifestations of 
the power of God in answering prayer they had 
ever seen. The girls in the next room had been 
forgotten, and to them this was like a bolt from 
the blue. Their grievances were utterly for- 
gotten, and a sense of their own guilt impressed 
upon them. 

Suddenly from the next room came a sob, and 
the folks who had just heard the “amen” of 
Benjamin's prayer saw Beatrice arise from her 


Surprises 


177 


chair and make her way to Jean. Throwing her 
arms around her neck, she wept bitterly. 

“Will you forgive me, Jean?” she sobbed. “I 
am such a sinner, and I know I treated you badly.” 

Marjorie quietly made her way to Jean’s side 
and said: 

“I, too, need a change of heart. I was angry 
when I saw what had been planned. I blamed 
you, but now I see that it was God’s plan, and I 
want to know your Saviour.” 

Esther was still in the back parlor. She was 
ever unwilling to admit she was wrong, and while 
the others made their surrender to Christ they 
feared she would once more resist the Spirit, but 
Jean slipped over to her side and putting her arms 
around her neck, asked if she, too, would not 
surrender. To the surprise of all present she 
arose and walked over to the others, and kneeling 
by Jean’s side, confessed her selfishness, lack of 
consideration and sympathy, and, acknowledging 
her need of Christ, stepped over the line out of 
self and into Jesus. It was a very happy group 
indeed that stood up and joined hands while they 
sang : 

“Oh happy day that fixed my choice 
On Thee, my Saviour and my God! 

Well may this glowing heart rejoice, 

And tell its raptures all abroad.” 


























































































































































































































































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